Abstract

Background:
Forest dragon (Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus) is a reptile of the Agamidae family, that its distribution includes Indonesia and Malaysia. Forest dragon uses its tongue to catch insects and invertebrates. In terms of morphology, the tongue of the Agamidae family is different from other reptiles. The study of morphology in the tongues of Agamidae is crucial for understanding their feeding behavior, prey capture mechanisms, and evolutionary relationships.

Aim:
This research attempts to analyze the morphology of the dorsal surface of the tongue of G. chamaeleontinus by using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and its histological structure by using hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining.

Methods:
This study will achieve a scanning electron microscope images and light microscope images using haematoxylin eosin stains and employ six samples of G. chamaeleontinus.

Results:
The tongue of G. chamaeleontinus separated into three distinct parts: the apex, corpus, and radix. The structure's apex contains dome-shaped papillae. The corpus section contains dome-shaped papillae and circumvallate papillae. The radix contains scale-like papillae. Additionally, histological analysis using HE stains revealed the taste buds on the dome-shaped papillae and circumvallate papillae and the presence of lingual salivary glands on the laminae propria mucosae.

Conclusion:
The tongue papillae of G. chamaeleontinus comprise sensory and mechanic papillae, which are also completed by lingual salivary glands.

Key words: Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus, Tongue, Light microscopy, Scanning electron microscopy