Comparative Anatomical Observations of the Tongue of the Japanese Long-Fingered Bats, Miniopterus schreibersi fuliginosus

Abstract

Observations under a light and a scanning electron microscope were made of the tongue in ten adult Japanese long-fingered bats (Miniopterus schreibersi fuliginosus). The tongue is tapering and has a lingual prominence in the posterior half. On its dorsum are four types of lingual papillae as in other mammals: circum vallote, foliate, fungiform, and filiform papillae. Sulcus terminals, however, are absent. A fan-shaped area of non-papillae is observed extending from the tongue root to the median fungiform papillae and between the circumvallate papillae. Mixture glands open into this area. The filiform papillae notably differ in morphology by their location on the tongue and can be classified into six types: 1)hair-like papillae,2) filiform papillae,3) trifid papillae,4) triangular papillae,5) saw-like papillae, and 6) conical papillae. The hair-like papillae which cover the anterior half of the tongue are considered to function effectively in catching small insects.