Ultrastructure of the tongue in the African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), comparison within the family Erinaceidae

The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is commonly considered as a pet animal, which makes it widely studied. This study focused on lingual morphology due to its relation to the type of food consumed. Light and scanning electron microscopy on the tongues of 3 adult male hedgehogs was performed. Five types of papillae were distinguished on the dorsal lingual surface: filiform (fork-like), conical, fungiform, vallate and foliate. Small conical papillae covered the dorsal surface of the apex, filiform (fork-like) papillae were found on the corpus, fungiform papillae were scattered among conical as well as fork-like papillae. Three vallate papillae localized on the lingual radix were arranged in an inverted V shape. Taste buds were opened to the circumpapillary sulcus. Histochemical analysis of seromucous salivary glands in the radix and purely serous glands in the vicinity of the vallate papillae showed the composition of their secretions in more detail. A comparison of the ultrastructure of the tongue within the family Erinaceidae was performed, as well as to species with similar feeding habits.