The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a Felidae of wide geographical distribution and food flexibility; therefore, it is essential to understand the morphology of the species. Thus, we aimed to describe its lingual morphology in order to gain information regarding the anatomy of this carnivore's digestive system. The tongues ​​were removed for ex situ macroscopic and morphometric analyses, as well as for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, of fragments of the different lingual regions. The tongue of L. pardalis had an elongated form that was subdivided into the apex, body and root, in which four papillary types were observed: filiform, fungiform, circumvallate and conical. It presented with a stratified, keratinized squamous epithelium, followed by loose and dense connective tissues, as well as a skeletal striated musculature that comprised most of the organ. In addition, in scanning electron microscopy the filiform papillae showed a complex with multiple layers of keratin with triangular shape projected caudally in oral cavity. The fungiform papillae were distributed among the filiform and showed a rounded shape with some gustatory pores, and are keratinized but in a lower intensity if compared with filiform. The vallate papillae, located in lingual root, showed an oval format, had a deep groove surrounded the papillae and some gustatory pores. The conical papillae are located in lingual root and are similar to the filiform. The tongue of L. pardalis resembles other carnivorous species, mainly among felids. However, it differed in relation to the quantity of vallate papillae and the absence of foliate papillae.

Brazil is classified as one of the richest countries in biodiversity worldwide (Mittermeier et al., 2005). The Xenarthra superorder is one of the oldest groups within the Brazilian fauna (Rezende et al., 2010). The group is divided into two orders, namely Cingulata, consisting of armadillos, and Pilosa, consisting of the sloths and anteaters. Pilosa xenarthrans have peculiar anatomical and physiological characteristics marked by low metabolism, low body temperature, and morphological adaptations to the most diverse types of niches (Cubas et al., 2007).Bradypus variegatus is a species popularly known as common sloth or brown-throated sloth, with a Brazilian geographical distribution (Mares & Genoways, 1982). It has long, thick and wavy hair, differentiated in the region of the face, the colour of which varies from pale brown to grey with whitish spots (Eisenberg et al., 2001).Information about the anatomy of these animals remains scarce, and multiple aspects remain unknown about their particularities,

Fermentative herbivorous animals have peculiar conformations of the digestive system. It is known that B. variegatus obtained the capacity for evolutionary adaptation, due to their ecology and eating habits. However, despite the literature on feeding management for this species, there is a lack of published information regarding its gastric morphology, and such information would support a better understanding on the diet and digestion of these individuals. We found seven gastric compartments, which histologically revealed three distinct patterns: an aglandular keratinized fraction (mechanical stomach) and two glandular fractions, one a mucus secretor and the other one composed of acid secreting cells (chemical stomach). With these evidences we understand that these individuals have gastric resemblance to ruminants, with some inherent peculiarities of this species, including the transit of the bolus.