Morphological study by scanning electron microscopy on the lingual papillae in tehe common european bat (ppstrellus pipist rellus)

Abstract

There are many accounts of the ton¡:ucs of mammals observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), but apparently only one article about the tongue of thc Chiroptcra. In the present study the tongue surface (after removing extraccellular material) of the European common bat (Pipistrellus ¡Jipstrellus) was examined. The tongue is covered with papillae and has an elevation between its medial and posterior half. There are three types of papillae : filiform, fungiform and circumvallatc, and the filiform can be classified as Slri tly Gliform. conical and crown-like. The shapes and disposition of Jhcsc papillae are related to function. Which is principally to retain capturcd food during Oight. At highcr magnifica!ion Jhc surfacc of ihc filiform papillae has many pores ;md microridges. which may serve for the production a nd distribution of mucus over the papillary surface.