Gross and scanning electron microscopic features of the oral cavity (palate, tongue, and sublingual floor) of the Egyptian long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auratus aegyptius)

The study was focused on the anatomical characteristics of the Egyptian long-eared hedgehog's oral cavity by using gross and scanning electron microscopic examinations. The upper lip had an elongated T-shaped snout-like structure. The hard palate had a triangular rostral part (which had a semicircular area and a caudal ridged area with the first 3 or 4 ridges) and a caudal part (which contained seven or eight slightly oblique ridges with raphae). The diamond-incisive papilla is flanked on both sides by a groove and a fissure. The hard palate surface had glandular openings and a microplicae system. The uneven, soft palate's surface had multiple grooves and folds with 12-16 Gemmal papillae. The Gemmal papillary surface had three to four taste pores with microplicae and glandular openings. The dorsal lingual surface had six filiform subtypes: pointed (on the tip, rostral border, and median apical region), triangular (on the lateral apical and circumvallate regions), bifurcated (on the median tip only), leaf-like (on the median body region), branched (on the lateral root region), and small pointed papillae (on the median root). There were two fungiform subtypes: ovals (on the rostral border and lateral region) and rounds (on the median apical region and body). The caudal root part had a triangular arrangement of three circumvallate papillae. In conclusion, the finding confirmed its oral cavity adaptation with its insectivorous feeding habits and Egyptian environment.