Morphological Study on the Tongue of a Neonatal Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

Abstract

The morphological characteristic of the tongue of a neonate Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) was observed on gross and with scanning electron microscopy. The tongue was oval shaped, and had the marginal papillae of various forms on the both sides of the anterior part. Three types of papillae (dome-, short cylindrical- and club-shape) were found on the surface of the tongue. Dome-shape papillae were distributed on the anterior surface of the tongue, and the short cylindrical- and club-shape papillae were distributed on the several grooves of the posterior surface of tongue. The connective tissue cores of these papillae were dendritic shape, fist-like, and cauliflower-like shape, respectively.