Morphological description of the tongue of the Boa constrictor.

The Amazon biome hosts a rich diversity of reptile species, including Boa constrictor (Linnaeus, 1758), widely distributed throughout Brazil and belonging to the order Squamata. Despite its ecological importance, detailed descriptions of lingual morphology in this species remain limited. This study aimed to describe the tongue of B. constrictor using macroscopic, histological, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Four specimens obtained post mortem after road accidents were analyzed. It is important to consider that freezing and thawing procedures may have influenced tissue preservation. Macroscopically, the tongue is elongated, bifurcated, and smooth, with no visible papillae or median groove. However, SEM revealed a median groove in the body of the tongue. Histologically, the tongue is lined by stratified squamous epithelium with slight keratinization, supported by connective tissue and skeletal muscle bundles. No papillae, taste buds, or salivary glands were observed under the conditions of this study. These findings support the sensory role of the tongue in snakes and contribute to comparative anatomical knowledge.