Abstract (eng)
For investigations of the oropharyngeal cavity of turtles different methods have been done so far. Macro- and microscopical, histological, and electron-microscopical investigations have been the most efficient methods, as well as high-speed-kinematography as a popular non-invasive exploration method.
In this study, investigations on the oropharyngeal cavity of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis and the north-american Common musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus, two semi-aquatic turtles, are done by histological sectioning, semi-thin sectioning, and scanning electron-microscopical methods. Not only the outer structures of the tongue and lingual papillae but also the inner contents of the Oral Mucosa are examined. These two species of turtles were chosen, because phylogenetically they are far away from each other but they live in similar habitats. So it is interesting to see if there is a correlation between the environment and the anatomical structures of the oropharyngeal cavity.
Though there are some variations in the oropharyngeal anatomy between E. orbicularis and S. odoratus, like the size of the tongue, the size and form of the lingual papillae, and the spreading of taste buds, in general there are many similarities between the two species. Both are semi-aquatic turtles, but well adapted to their aquatic habitat. So they both have a relatively small and unmoveable tongue, a big hyoidapparatus, no complex singletubular glands and only small lingual papillae, not being able to transport food into the pharynx and oesophagus, respectively.