We describe the morphological adaptations of the tongue and gastrointestinal tract of the striped sand snake Psammophis sibilans and discuss their functional importance. Using standard histological, histochemical, and scanning electron microscopy techniques, we analyzed 11 adult snakes of both sexes. Our findings showed that the bifurcated non-papillate tongue exhibited chemoreceptive adaptions to squamate foraging behavior. The lingual apex tapered terminally with sensory spines, and the body of the tongue possesses a characteristic central odor–receptor chamber that might serve to trap and retain scent molecules. Furthermore, the intrinsic musculature showed interwoven and well-developed transverse, vertical and longitudinal muscle fibers that control contraction and retraction during probing and flicking. The esophagus displayed highly folded mucosa lined with columnar epithelium with goblet cells. In contrast, the stomach mucosa formed finger-like gastric rugae, encompassing tubular glands with dorsal gastric pits. The intestine is distinct from other vertebrates in lacking the crypts of Lieberkühn in the tunica mucosa and submucosa. The intestine mucosa is mostly arranged in interdigitating villi oriented perpendicular to the luminal surface. We extrapolated subtle variations for both acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins localization as well as collagen fibers using histochemical analyses. The elaborate histo-morphological and functional adaptation of the tongue and digestive tract plays a pivotal role in foraging and feeding behavior.

中文翻译：

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Psammophis sibilans (Squamata, Lamprophiidae) 舌头和消化道的结构和功能表征：觅食和摄食行为的适应性策略

我们描述了条纹沙蛇的舌头和胃肠道的形态适应沙棘并讨论它们的功能重要性。使用标准的组织学、组织化学和扫描电子显微镜技术，我们分析了 11 条成年蛇的性别。我们的研究结果表明，分叉的非乳突舌表现出对鳞状动物觅食行为的化学感受适应。舌尖末端逐渐变细，带有感觉棘，舌体具有特征性的中央气味受体室，可用于捕获和保留气味分子。此外，内在肌肉组织显示出交织和发达的横向、垂直和纵向肌肉纤维，这些纤维在探查和轻弹期间控制收缩和收缩。食管显示高度折叠的粘膜，其内衬有带有杯状细胞的柱状上皮。相比之下，胃黏膜形成了手指状的胃皱褶，包括管状腺体，背侧有胃小窝。肠道与其他脊椎动物的不同之处在于，在被膜粘膜和粘膜下层缺乏 Lieberkühn 的隐窝。肠黏膜大多排列成垂直于管腔表面的交叉指状绒毛。我们使用组织化学分析推断酸性和中性粘多糖和糖蛋白定位以及胶原纤维的细微变化。舌头和消化道的精细组织形态和功能适应在觅食和摄食行为中起着关键作用。肠黏膜大多排列成垂直于管腔表面的交叉指状绒毛。我们使用组织化学分析推断酸性和中性粘多糖和糖蛋白定位以及胶原纤维的细微变化。舌头和消化道的精细组织形态和功能适应在觅食和摄食行为中起着关键作用。肠黏膜大多排列成垂直于管腔表面的交叉指状绒毛。我们使用组织化学分析推断酸性和中性粘多糖和糖蛋白定位以及胶原纤维的细微变化。舌头和消化道的精细组织形态和功能适应在觅食和摄食行为中起着关键作用。