Papillary architecture of the Leopardus pardalis tongue

Abstract

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a Felidae of wide geographical distribution and food flexibility; therefore, it is essential to understand the morphology of the species. Thus, we aimed to describe its lingual morphology in order to gain information regarding the anatomy of this carnivore's digestive system. The tongues ​​were removed for ex situ macroscopic and morphometric analyses, as well as for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, of fragments of the different lingual regions. The tongue of L. pardalis had an elongated form that was subdivided into the apex, body and root, in which four papillary types were observed: filiform, fungiform, circumvallate and conical. It presented with a stratified, keratinized squamous epithelium, followed by loose and dense connective tissues, as well as a skeletal striated musculature that comprised most of the organ. In addition, in scanning electron microscopy the filiform papillae showed a complex with multiple layers of keratin with triangular shape projected caudally in oral cavity. The fungiform papillae were distributed among the filiform and showed a rounded shape with some gustatory pores, and are keratinized but in a lower intensity if compared with filiform. The vallate papillae, located in lingual root, showed an oval format, had a deep groove surrounded the papillae and some gustatory pores. The conical papillae are located in lingual root and are similar to the filiform. The tongue of L. pardalis resembles other carnivorous species, mainly among felids. However, it differed in relation to the quantity of vallate papillae and the absence of foliate papillae.

Three‐dimensional study of the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores in the Nile fox (Vulpes vulpes aegyptica) (Linnaeus, 1758)

“…Similar to the present finding, regional variation of filiform papillae has been reported in jaguar, tiger, mountain lion, ocelot, cat, and mongoose (Emura et al, 2004, 2013; Erdoğan et al, 2018; Freire et al, 2019; Haligur et al, 2020; Hikida, Takemura, & Suwa, 2015; Iwasaki, Miyata, & Kobayashi, 1987; Kim et al, 2014). The regional variation in the shape and size of filiform papillae indicates functional adaptation to diet, eating habit (Boshell et al, 1982), and complexity of the masticatory movements (Kobayashi, 1990).…”

“…On the contrary, six types of papillae (filiform, conical, hook shape‐like, fungiform, vallate, and foliate) are present in mongoose (Haligur, Ozkadif, Alan, & Yener, 2020), and four types (filiform, fungiform, foliate, and vallate papillae) are present in Japanese red fox, raccoon dog, Persian Leopard, and cat (Emura et al, 2006; Sadeghinezhad, Sheibani, Memarian, & Chiocchetti, 2017). On the other hand, the lingual papillae in beagle dog, Bengal tiger, ocelot, and mountain lion include filiform, conical, fungiform, and vallate papillae (Erdoğan, Villar, König, & Pérez, 2018; Freire et al, 2019; Iwasaki & Sakata, 1985; Kim, Kim, Kim, & Won, 2014). While those in black‐backed jackal, bush dog, jaguar, tiger, and cat include filiform, fungiform, and vallate papillae (Boshell, Wilborn, & Singh, 1982; Emura, 2018; Emura et al, 2004, 2013; Emura & Sugiyama, 2014; Emura, Tamada, Hayakawa, Chen, & Shoumura, 2000).…”

“…In line with this result, two types of fungiform papillae have been reported in newborn tiger; hemispherical or club‐shaped fungiform papillae (Emura et al, 2001). In this respect, the fungiform papillae in Japanese red fox, arctic fox, raccoon dogs, Persian leopard, and mountain lion are dome‐shaped (Emura et al, 2006; Erdoğan et al, 2018; Jackowiak et al, 2009; Sadeghinezhad et al, 2017), while they are rounded‐shape in wolf, bush dog, jaguar, tiger, ocelot, fishing cat, and mongoose (Emura et al, 2000, 2004, 2013, 2014; Freire et al, 2019; Haligur et al, 2019, 2020; Kim et al, 2014). But in domestic cat the fungiform papillae are button shape (El‐bably & Tolba, 2015).…”

“…Several studies have been done to investigate the morphology of tongue and lingual papillae in different members of the family Carnivora including arctic fox, silver fox, Japanese red fox, wolf, raccoon dogs, black‐backed Jackal, tiger, jaguar, ocelot, and domestic cat (El‐bably & Tolba, 2015; Emura, Hayakawa, Chen, & Shoumura, 2004; Emura, Okumura, & Chen, 2013; Emura, Okumura, Chen, & Shoumura, 2006; Emura & Sugiyama, 2014; Freire et al, 2019; Haligur, Ozkadif, & Alan, 2019; Jackowiak & Godynicki, 2004; Jackowiak, Godynicki, Skieresz‐Szewczyk, & Trzcielińska‐Lorych, 2009). In addition, the connective tissue cores (CTCs) of the lingual papillae have been studied in black‐backed jackal, dog, jaguar, and cat (Emura, 2018; Emura et al, 2013; Emura & Sugiyama, 2014; Kobayashi & Iwasaki, 1989; Kobayashi, Miyata, & Iino, 1987; Kobayashi, Miyata, Iwasaki, & Takahashi, 1988).…”

Anatomical, histological and immunohistochemical study of the tongue in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

“…The most of the functional processes inside the oral cavity are carried out by the tongue, whose presence and description have been showed in different species of fish, demonstrating the variation in the presence of anatomical structures like taste buds, mucous cells and teeth in teleosts, also of commercial interest (Abbate et al., 2006,2017,2020a,2020b; Abbate, Guerrera, Montalbano, Ciriaco, et al., 2012; Abbate, Guerrera, Montalbano, De Carlos, et al., 2012; Alsafy, Bassuoni, & Hanafy, 2018; Amato et al., 2012; Dos Santos, Arantes, Santiago, & Dos Santos, 2015; El Bakary, 2014; Elgendy, Alsafy, & Tanekhy, 2016; Germanà et al., 2009; Guerrera et al., 2015; Ikpegbu, Ibe, & Nlebedum, 2019; Kasumyan, 2019; Kettratad, Senarat, Boonyoung, & Jiraungkoorsku, 2017; Levanti et al., 2017; Mahmoud, Essa, & Sayed, 2016; Sadeghinezhad, Rahmati‐holasoo, Fayyaz, & Zargar, 2015; Sayed, Mahmoud, & Essa, 2019; Yu et al., 2019). Several significant papers, important as comparative data, are present in the literature in upper vertebrates like birds, reptiles and mammals (Abbate et al, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020b; Abumandour & Kandyel, 2020; Barbosa et al., 2020; Bels et al., 2020; Cizek, Hamouzova, Goździewska‐Harłajczuk, Klećkowska‐Nawrot, & Kvapil, 2020; Cizek, Hamouzova, Kvapil, & Kyllar, 2019; Emura, 2016a,2016b,2016c,2017,2018a,2018b,2018c,2018d,2019; Erdoğan & Alan, 2012; Erdoğan & Iwasaki, 2014; Erdoğan Lima & Pérez, 2016; Erdoğan Villar Arias & Pérez, 2016; Erdoğan, Villar Arias, et al., 2016; Erdoğan et al., 2018a; Erdoğan and Sağsöz, 2018b; Freire et al., 2019; Gonçalves et al., …”