Function-related morphological characteristics and specialized structures of the avian tongue

Abstract

As a reflection of different life styles and environment, the tongue of vertebrates, which plays a major role in the intake and swallowing of food, displays significant morphological differences. The gross form and microscopic structure of the avian tongue differ greatly according to lifestyle. The avian tongue plays a fundamental role in many functions such as capturing, filtering, sucking and manipulating food in order to compensate absence of subsidiary organs like teeth in the oropharyngeal cavity. Variations in lingual papillae play an important role in feeding of birds, as they represent a structure similar to teeth in the upper and lower beaks and can be used to hold and direct food in the oropharyngeal cavity. Tongues of birds exhibit common as well as varying anatomical characteristics in terms of surface morphology, structure and topographical distribution of lingual papillae as well as distinct specialized structures, epithelial layers, taste buds and lingual glands. This review evaluates the important morphological peculiarities of the tongue in birds, focusing on the relationship between anatomical features and feeding functions.