Abstract
The morphology and distribution of the lingual papillae in the Indian flying fox was observed under scanning electron microscopy. The tongue was elongated with a sharpened apex that was 4.8-5.7cm in length and 1.2-1.5cm in width. The tongue was covered by mechanical papillae, fungiform papillae and three vallate papillae. Mechanical papillae can be divided into five types; scale-like, giant trifid, crown-like, large crown-like and conical papillae. The results of the study on the Indian lying fox showed a unique pattern of the distribution of the lingual papillae. In particular the giant trifid papillae were a unique charactaeristic of the Megachiropteran.
