On the Gustatory Organs of some Edentata 



by 

 Frederick Tuckerinau. 



The Tongue of Dasypus peba. 



The material consisted of two spirits specimens, a whole tongue 

 and the back part of a smaller one. 



Oeneral Description. — The tongue is long and narrow, and 

 tapers gradually to a point. It measures 51 mm. in length and, near 

 the bone, is 10 mm, in diameter. It is fiee for 34 mm. from the 

 fraenum, two thirds of its entire length, and is thus capable of great 

 prehensile power. The under surface is finely wrinkled, and marked 

 by a median ridge extending from the fraenum to the tip. The ridge 

 is impressed longitudinally by two parallel grooves. It is likewise 

 transversely furrowed, the furrows being parallel and 1,5 mm. apart. 

 The anterior two-thirds of the papillate surface is sheathed with a 

 thick layer of partially cornifled epithelium. The posterior third is 

 transversely wrinkled, the furrows being parallel and running across 

 the tongue. The basal end of the organ bends somewhat abruptly 

 downwards, forming a kind of pit. From this pit a deep groove ex- 

 tends along the middle of the dorsum for a distance of 6 mm. Fungi- 

 form papulae are not numerous, but are quite evenly distributed over 

 the middle and anterior dorsal surface and upon the sides. Some of 

 the papillae appear to be set in trencher, with their summits below 

 the level of the lingual surface. The circumvallate papillae are two in 

 number. They are 5 mm apart, and 15 mm from the base of the 

 organ. I failed to find the lateral gustatory organs in this species, 

 but I think there can be but little doubt of their existence. 



