Anatomical and scanning electron microscopic studies of the tongue and lingual papillae in the chital deer (Axis axis, Erxleben 1777)

Abstract

AbstractThis research presents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the chital deer. In this study, tongues of five deer were used. The tongue was fairly elongated and terminated in oval apex. Cone‐shaped filiform papilla was composed of one larger main papilla and two smaller secondary papillae, which emerged from bottom of main papilla. Rounded fungiform papillae were randomly distributed on the body and torus, and some fungiform papillae were surrounded by evident groove. On the ventral surface, some of them had evident fossa on their surfaces. The lenticular papillae on the lateral and rostral side of the torus were smaller in length compared with ones localized on central region of the torus. Eleven to fourteen circumvallate papillae were situated on each caudolateral side of the torus. The circumvallate papillae were surrounded by a prominent gustatory groove and there were no annular pads surrounding the groove. Morphological features of the tongue of the chital deer were similar to some wild and domestic ruminants. In this regard; it is thought that this research will provide morphological contributions for deer species as there are not sufficient and detailed sources on species‐specific morphology in researches on Cervidae family.