Light and Scanning Electron Microscope Studies of the Tongue of the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)

The lingual papillae of (Herpestes ichneumon) have specialized shapes different from other carnivore mammals. So, the present study aims to demonstrate those specialized papillae. We observed that the external surface of the tongue has different papillae (filiform, fungiform, and circumvallate). The tongue was elongated; their two-third width was almost fixed. Numerous filiform papillae were distributed along the anterior two-thirds of the tongue while the fungiform papillae were distributed between the filiform ones. There are different types of filiform papillae which are serrate, smooth small and giant elongated. The conical papillae appear toward the posterior end of the tongue. The fungiform papillae have different shapes from small to large beginning from the anterior apex to the posterior. We observed the circumvallate papillae at the posterior surface. Also groups of mucus glands present. Conclusion: Herpestes ichneumon, have specialized shapes different from other carnivore mammals.