Morphological structure of the tongue of the European badger (Meles meles).

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the morphological aspects of the tongue and investigate the histologic and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) findings of the papillae on the tongue of the European badger. Two adult European badgers were used as material. The tongues of the European badgers were removed via the dissection method, and morphometric measurements were taken. The tongues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin solution for histological examination, and the SEM procedure was applied to the tongues. Three types of papillae were observed on the tongues: filiform, fungiform, vallate papillae. The different shapes (hook or conical structures) of filiform papillae were observed on the whole tongue. Fungiform papillae were found scattered in filiform papillae. Six vallate papillae were found on the dorsal face of the middle and root of the tongues. In the root of the tongue, the lingual tonsil was observed in the lentiform shape. The authors believe that this research will provide contributions to morphological knowledge about the tongue of the badger, which is a poorly known species.