Morphological Analysis of the Tongue and the Digestive Tube of Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola brasiliensis,LINNAUES 1766) Apprehended by CETAS/IBAMA-PB

Abstract

The saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola brasiliensis) is a Passeriforme of the Brazilian wildlife. There are scarcely any morphological studies on it, although it is frequently trafficked for its birdsong abilities. Its peculiarities, such as territorialism and developed syrinx that provides outstanding song, draw attention towards its domestication. Thus, this study aimed to morphologically describe the tongue and digestive tube organs of this species to furnish subsidies for nutritional, clinical and conservation studies. Forty-one birds from the Wild Animal Screening Center (CETAS)/Brazilian Institute of Environment (IBAMA)/city of Cabedelo, state of Paraíba (PB) were used. Samples were collected, identified and sent to standard light microscopy; samples of proventriculus and gizzard were sent to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The samples showed stratification similar to that of other domestic and wild birds, confirmed in the scanning electron microscopy; however, they differed in the absence of dermal papillae in the tongue, lack of ingluvial glands and lack of muscular mucosa and sub-mucosa in the large intestine.

Morphological description of the alimentary canal and adnexal glands in Amazilia tzacatl, Amazilia saucerottei, Amazilia amabilis and Anthrachotorax nigricollis species

“…In our study, we did not observe the presence of a muscular lamina of the mucosa in any segment of the alimentary canal in the four species examined. This finding contrasts with the observations made in birds such as hens, greater rheas, A. brasiliensis, and A. ararauna (Monteiro et al, 2009;Rodrigues, Abreu et al, 2012;Silva Siqueira et al, 2014).…”

“…Both the oesophagus and crop mucosa exhibited varying degrees of epithelial keratinization and irregular dense connective tissue in the propria submucosa. The presence and extent of keratinization, as well as the type of underlying connective tissue, can vary significantly among avian species (Monteiro et al, 2009;Rodrigues, Abreu, et al, 2012;Rodrigues, Oliveira, et al, 2012;Silva Siqueira et al, 2014). Silva Siqueira et al ( 2014) has proposed that the keratinization of the epithelium is associated with the consumption of abrasive diets, a characteristic commonly observed in herbivorous and insectivorous species.…”

“…Silva Siqueira et al. (2014) has proposed that the keratinization of the epithelium is associated with the consumption of abrasive diets, a characteristic commonly observed in herbivorous and insectivorous species. However, this pattern is not consistent in large birds like the ostrich (Monteiro et al., 2009), suggesting that the keratinization of the epithelium may also be influenced by the thickness of the wall.…”