Morphology of the lingual papillae of the bharal (Pseudois nayaur).

We examined the dorsal lingual surfaces of an adult bharal (Pseudois nayaur) by scanning electron microscopy. The filiform papillae of the lingual apex and body consisted of a main papilla and smaller secondary papillae. The filiform papilla of the lingual body was big as compared to that of the lingual apex. The connective tissue cores of the filiform papillae consisted of several processes. The fungiform papilla was round in shape. The connective tissue cores of the fungiform papillae were flower-bud shaped. The lenticular papillae of large size were limited on the lingual prominence. The connective tissue cores of the lenticular papillae were hair-like in shape. The vallate papillae were located on both sides of the posterolateral aspects. The vallate papillae were flattened-oval shaped and the papillae were surrounded by an oval-shaped trench. The connective tissue cores of the vallate papillae were covered with numerous small spines The lingual surface of the bharal closely resembled that of the family Bovidae.