Papillary architecture in the tayra tongue

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anatomy
• Comparative Morphology
• Mammalian Anatomy

Background:

• The tayra (Eira barbara), a mustelid mammal, inhabits all Brazilian biomes.
• Understanding its lingual morphology is crucial for anatomical and comparative studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the morphology of the tayra tongue.
• To identify unique lingual structures for comparative analysis.

Main Methods:

• Macroscopic and microscopic examination of five adult male tayra specimens.
• Histological slide preparation and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

Main Results:

• Identified mechanical papillae (filiform, conical) and gustative papillae (fungiform, circumvallate).
• Histology revealed keratinized stratified epithelium, dense connective tissue, and skeletal muscle bundles.
• Observed mixed salivary glands and gustatory corpuscles at the tongue root.
• Noted the absence of foliate papillae and the presence of four circumvallate papillae.

Conclusions:

• The tayra tongue morphology shares similarities with other mammals but has distinct features.
• The absence of foliate papillae and the specific number of circumvallate papillae are key particularities.