A língua: revisão enfocada no estudo da Guaiaquica

Abstract

The guaiquica (Gracilinanus microtarsus), belongs to the family Didelphidae, which is a very important family among marsupials, because in addition to containing many species (like opossums), it represents the model group of marsupials. Marsupial ancestors, from the Cretaceous period, had morphological characteristics very similar to those of today's Neotropical skunks. For this reason, their reproductive adaptations are considered directly related to primitive marsupials, and this similarity is of great interest for the comparative study of their biology. The tongue is a very important organ for the performance of functions such as chewing, swallowing, speech, and participates in functional stimuli that act on the growth and development of the face. The tongue extends into the oropharynx, and occupies most of the oral cavity. It has a root and body that are fixed, and a free apex. It is a muscular organ, capable of performing precise and vigorous movements, such as hygiene, handling food in the mouth, and in the speech articulation. Such mobility is obtained by fixing the base, leaving the apex loose to move in and out of the oral cavity. Therefore, in view of the importance of this organ and the ignorance of the analyzed species, this study aims to compile the morphological data of the species contained in the literature, and to obtain more information about the morphology of the guaiquica.