Presence and distribution of lingual papillae in alpaca (Lama pacos Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

 In order to study the presence, location and distribution of the lingual papillae in alpacas (Lama pacos), 12 tongues were studied.

The vallatae papillae were observed in the posterior part of the tongue body and arranged on both sides as a line of 1 to 5 papillae. The fungiform papillae were distributed mainly in the dorsal and ventral surface of the tip of the tongue. No foliate papillae were observed. The filiform papillae were fine thread-like cornified processes with caudal direction mainly closely packed rostral to the lingual fossa. The conical papillae presented diverse morphological features, but a derivation of conical papillae that was identificated by shape, disposition and development was clearly observed, proposing their name as bunoformes papillae.

The morphological features of each type of papillae were compared with the papillae of other ruminants and their possible significance discussed.