Morphology of the Lingual Papillae in the Raccoon Dog and Fox

Abstract

Summary: The dorsal lingual surfaces of the raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica) were examined by scanning electron microscopical (SEM) observations. The distribution and type of the lingual papillae found in the raccoon dog were similar to those in the fox. Filiform, fungiform, foliate and vallate papillae were observed. The filiform papillae were distributed over the entire dosal surface of the tongue. Each filiform papilla on the apical surface of the tongue had several pointed processes. The filiform papillae of the lingual body consisted of a main papilla and some secondary papillae. The fungiform papillae were present rounded bodies, and more densely distributed on the lingual apex. The foliate papillae were seen on the dorsolateral aspect of the tongue. The vallate papillae were located on both sides of the posterior end of the lingual body. Each papilla was surrounded by groove and crescent pad. On the periphery of the papillae, large conical papillae were observed.

Morphological Comparison of the Filiform Papillae of New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as Domestic Mammals and Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) as Wild Mammals Using Scanning Electron Microscopic Specimens

“…The lingual median prominence was a characteristic feature in some mammals, which agree with our observation in New Zealand white rabbit tongue, and in; bank vole (Jackowiak & Godynicki, 2005), rabbit (Nonaka et al, 2008) and herbivorous artiodactylas (Zheng & Kobayashi, 2006), while omnivorous artiodactylas (pig) and carnivores animals not have a lingual prominence (Emura et al, 2006;Kumar & Bate, 2004). While (Pastor et al, 1993) in common European bat reported that there was a prominent of intermolar tubercle, moreover, molossid bats have a prominent mid-dorsal lobe as noted by Gregorin (2003), but Emura et al (2001b), Jackowiak et al (2009), Gregorin and Mqokeli & Downs (2012) reported that, there is no typically intermolar tubercle in all bats, while our study in the Egyptian fruit bat noted that, the characteristic feature of the dorsal surface of the middle part of tongue is the presence of a shallow intermolar tubercle, located close to the posterior half area of the tongue.…”

“…As in the previous published data, the lingual papillae were species-specific, in which differing in their number among mammalian species, these differences may depend on dissimilarities in diet, feeding habits and handling of food in mouth (Emura et al, 2002b;Abumandour & El-Bakary), the previous data clear in; our study in Egyptian fruit bat, this confirmed by presence of four types of lingual papillae; two mechanical and two gustatory as noted in; bats (Selim et al, 2008;Abumandour & El-Bakary;Abayomi et al, 2009), moreover other mammals have four lingual papillae; as in our study in New Zealand white rabbits; one mechanical (filiform) and three gustatory (fungiform, foliate and circumvallate) as noted in; rats (Nasr et al, 2012), bank vole (Jackowiak & Godynicki, 2005), dog and fox (Emura et al, 2006). However, three types of lingual papillae; one mechanical (filiform) and two gustatory (fungiform and circumvallate) as noted in; bats (Pastor et al, 1993;Emura et al, 2001b;Park & Lee, 2009;Masuko et al, 2007), however, there were two types only of papillae (filiform and fungiform) in hematophagous bats (Masuko et al).…”

Morphology of the Lingual Papillae in the Japanese Marten

“…Similar SEM studies have been reported on the dorsal lingual surface of the other mammals (Emura et al, 2000(Emura et al, , 2003(Emura et al, , 2004(Emura et al, , 2006Jackowiak and Godynicki, 2004).…”

“…Some vallate papillae of the asian black bear were composed by a primary papillae which was divided into several secondary papillae by intermediate grooves (Emura et al, 2001). The dorsal surfaces of the vallate papillae in the tiger, raccoon dog and fox were irregular (Emura et al, 2004(Emura et al, , 2006. The surfaces of the vallate papillae in the silver fox were smooth (Jackowiak and Godynicki, 2004).…”

“…In the order Carnivora, there have been many SEM studies of the tongues of cat (Boshell et al, 1982;Kobayashi et al, 1988), dog (Iwasaki and Sakata, 1985; Kobayashi et al, 1987), mongoose (Iwasaki et al, 1987), Japanese weasel (Furubayashi et al, 1989), sea otter (Shimoda et al, 1996), Asian black bear (Inatomi and Kobayashi, 1999), bush dog (Emura et al, 2000), panther and Asian black bear (Emura et al, 2001), lion (Emura et al, 2003), tiger (Emura et al, 2004), silver fox (Jackowiak and Godynicki, 2004) and raccoon dog and fox (Emura et al, 2006). Such studies reveal variations in morphology and distribution of papillae on the dorsal lingual surface among animal species.…”