Comparative study on lingual morphology of adult crossbred sheep and non-descript goats of Jammu region with reference to grazing and browsing adaptations

Abstract

The present study compared the gross morphological features of the tongue in crossbred sheep and non-descript goats, emphasizing notable interspecies differences. In crossbred sheep, the tongue was pointed at the apex and exhibited a distinct median longitudinal groove on the dorsal surface, whereas in non-descript goats the tip of the tongue was spatula-shaped with an indistinct median longitudinal groove. The tongue surface in adult goats showed marked pigmentation, while the sheep tongue was predominantly white colored. Among the lingual papillae, variations were observed in the distribution of lenticular papillae. They were arranged in two parallel rows on the torus linguae in goats but irregularly distributed in sheep. Additionally, sheep generally exhibited a comparatively greater density of papillae on the root region. These morphological differences might reflect species-specific adaptations related to feeding behavior and functional anatomy.