Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The morphological structure of the tongue, which plays a fundamental role in the processes of receiving, selecting, recognizing and swallowing food, varies among species depending on the environment and diet of the creature. This study aimed to describe the morphology of the tongue of the Crimean barbel (Barbus tauricus) for the first time. Eight adult Barbus tauricus (all females, 1-2 years old, 8.5-9.3 cm total length, omni-insectivorous bottom feeder) tongues used for consumption were examined using macroanatomical, light, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In Barbus tauricus, the tongue was triangular in shape, widening from tip to root, and consisted of three parts: apex, corpus and radix linguae. No macroscopic papillae were observed on the tongue surface. In histological examinations, microscopic papillae were not observed in the tongue, which is composed of a mucosa, submucosa, and an osteocartilaginous supporting layer, whereas the presence of Type I, Type II, and Type III taste buds and epidermal club cells (ECCs) was detected. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses demonstrated the surface location of taste pores and taste buds. In conclusion, this study presents, for the first time, the morphological structure of the Barbus tauricus tongue in detail, demonstrating its food processing, taste, and morphological features.