[Histologic data on the lingual glands in various anuran amphibians]

The anuran Amphibians have a well developed tongue which is either protractile or attached to the floor of the buccal cavity according to the species. The lingual glands of the papillary dorsal side consist of simple tubules. The stratified epithelium of the ventral and lateral sides of the tongue is composed of mucous and muco-serous cells inserted between the covering ciliated cells. Filiform pappillae and glands have a simple epithelium with numerous outer ciliated cells and glandular cells. The latter eleborate a product rich in glycosaminoglycans, more or less acid according to the species, associated with proteins. The lingual gland secretion is composed of proteins; when present, glycosaminoglycans are less abundant and less acid than those produced by the outer glandular cells. The histochemical and ultrastructural characters of the lingual glands of Anurans are compared to those of Apoda and Caudata previously studied by the same techniques.