Scanning electron microscopic study on the dorsal lingual surface of the Egyptian little owl, Athene noctua

Sherif A Ahmed ,Ezar Hafez ,Abeer A Alm-Eldeen

doi:10.21608/djs.2018.138910

Abstract

Tongue in birds has a significant role in feeding mechanism as it greatly differs in the shape and size to help in obtaining, manipulating, swallowing and processing food. However, many details about some species are still missing. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the morphological appearance of the dorsal lingual surface of the little owl, Athene noctua using scanning electron microscope. The tongue of the little owl, Athene noctua appears elongated in the antero-posterior direction. The tongue is distinguished into an anterior lingual body and a posterior lingual radix. Lingual body surface is devoid from any type of the lingual papillae which are observed only on the dorsal surface of the lingual radix. The tip of the tongue appeared to be bifurcated. Irregular scaly protrusions of deciduous epithelial outgrowths were observed on the lingual body surface. Several rows of lingual papillae of different sizes were observed on the dorsal surface of the lingual radix. The results showed that the morphological features of the tongue of the little owl, Athene noctua is matched with its feeding habit.

Highlights

Feeding mechanism is important to determine the adaptation of vertebrates to their environment
The tongue of the little owl, Athene noctua is about 1.3 cm long and 0.5 cm width
The tongue is distinguished into an anterior lingual body and a posterior lingual radix

Summary

Introduction

Feeding mechanism is important to determine the adaptation of vertebrates to their environment. In vertebrates and especially in birds, tongue has a significant role in the feeding mechanism. Differences in the shape and size of the tongue allow it to work as a specialized tool for obtaining, manipulating, swallowing and processing food (Al-Nefeiy, 2015). Many authors studied the morphology of the tongue in birds and they reported that tongue's shape and structure differ according to the type of food and method of food intake (Al-Zahaby and Elsheikh, 2014). Difference in the shape of the tongue reflects their lifestyle and feeding habits as birds are spread out through the different habitats such as the air, the land and the water (Skieresz-Szewczyk and Jackowiak, 2014). Iwasaki (2002) studied the structure of the oral cavity in Difference in the shape of the tongue reflects their lifestyle and feeding habits as birds are spread out through the different habitats such as the air, the land and the water (Skieresz-Szewczyk and Jackowiak, 2014). Iwasaki (2002) studied the structure of the oral cavity in

Methods

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Conclusion