Morphology of the lingual papillae in the giraffe.

We examined the dorsal lingual surfaces of an adult giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) by scanning electron microscopy. The filiform papillae on the lingual apex consisted of slender and thick conical papillae. The connective tissue core of the filiform papilla was flower-bud-like in shape. The filiform papillae on the lingual body consisted of large conical papillae and the fungiform papillae were round in shape. The connective tissue core of the fungiform papilla was rose-like in shape. The filiform papillae on the lingual prominence consisted of more large conical papillae than that of the lingual body. The connective tissue core of the filiform papilla was trianglar in shape. The large lenticular papillae were limited on the lingual prominence. The connective tissue core of the lenticular papilla consisted of small spines. The vallate papillae were located on both sides of the posterolateral aspects. The vallate papillae were flattened-oval in shape and the papillae were surrounded by a semicircular trench. The top of the connective tissue core of the vallate papilla had a rough surface with no spines.