Morphology of the european sea bass (dicentrarchus labrax) tongue

Abstract

The European sea bass, a member of the Moronidae family, is a food fish, considered one of the first models for the intensive breeding in salt water. It has nowadays an important and increasing presence in the international fishing markets. Sea basses are carnivorous, feeding on little fishes and invertebrates. Considering the important role of the tongue during the intraoral transport and the swallowing of food, scarce data are present in literature about its morphology. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphology of the tongue by means of scanning electron and light microscopy. Adult sea basses were obtained from the aquarium of the Sicilian Center of Experimental Ichthyiopathology of the University of Messina. The fishes were anaesthetized with MS 222 and the heads were then quickly removed and processed for the paraffin embedding and SEM processing. Three different tongue regions could be distinguished: an apex, a body, and a root. Scanning electron and light microscopy showed the presence of numerous canine-like teeth, surrounded by taste buds and numerous fungiform and conical papillae. The teeth were curved and their tips were posteriorly oriented. The results confirm, in teleosts too, the fundamental role of the tongue in the mechanics of food ingestion. Moreover, the presence of taste buds demonstrates the interaction of food processing and taste. These data could be a potential source to identify new and better methods of nutrition in the breeding of this fish.

Morphology of the tongue dorsal surface in white sea bream (Diplodus sargus sargus)

“…Within this field of research, different aspects of the oral cavity of some teleosts, already widely used in the aquaculture world, were investigated (Abbate et al . ,b). However, there is no data in literature on the anatomical aspects of the buccal cavity of some species considered optimal candidates for the diversification of the production.…”

“…For ascertaining the morphological details better, some pieces were washed in 5% neutral Extran (Merck, Damstadt, Germany) to remove the mucus (Abbate et al . , , , , ,b). For light microscopy, the specimens were fixed in Bouin's solution for 72 h, dehydrated by graded alcohols in ascending order up to 100% and embedded in paraffin.…”

“…; Abbate et al . ,b). Moreover, the relations among the modifications during the evolution in the food processing and diet were also recently investigated measuring different parameters related to the food processing like pressure of suction, flow velocity, etc.…”

“…Their life cycles and the morphological and functional aspects of the oral cavity are well known (Abbate et al . ,b).…”

The microstructure of buccal cavity and alimentary canal of Siganus rivulatus: Scanning electron microscope study

“…The shapes of mouth and oral cavitiesy of fishes are good clue to indicate what fish eat. Buccal or orophryngeal cavity shows structural adaptability and great plasticity for eating different food items (Abbate et al, ; Abbate, Guerrera, Montalbano, Ciriaco, & Germanà, ; Abbate, Guerrera, Montalbano, de Carlos, et al, ; Baaoom, ; El Bakary, ; El Bakary, ; Harabawy, Mekkawy, Mahmoud, Abdel‐Rahman, & Khidr, ; Horn, ; Kapoor & Khanna, ; Kapoor, Smit, & Verighina, ; Levanti et al, ). The alimentary canal morphology in fishes usually shows characteristic variations in relation to diet, habit of feeding, phylogeny, shape of body, and characters that show functional differentiation (Abaurrea, Nuñez, & Ostos, ; Anderson, ; Kapoor et al, ; Noaillac‐Depeyre & Gas, ).…”