[Morphostructural study of the lingual papillae in the buffalo (Bubalus bubalus)]

The morphostructural characteristics of lingual papillae in 30 adult buffaloes were studied by SEM. In this species, dorsal lingual surface papillae shows different shape so that their classification is complicated. Topography and morphology of conical and vallate papillae presents significant aspects. Particularly, the conical papillae have a different morphological organization when they are localized over the side of the tongue apex or over dorso-lateral tract of the tongue body. The functional aspects are discussed.