The tongues of the Insectivora; House Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus riukianus), Temminck's Mole (Mogera kobeae), and Furry Snouted Shrew Mole (Dymecodon pilirostris), were observed by lens and scanning electron microscope.
The tongue and lingual apex of the three species were distinct from each other. In House Musk Shrew, the tongue tapered and lingual apex was pointed, in Temminck's Mole rectangular and flat, and in Furry Snouted Shrew Mole elliptical and rounded. On the tongue roots of all of the species, two vallate papillae were observed. Those shapes were different. However, foliate papillae were not observed in all of the species. The fungiform papillae were scattered among the filiform papillae, and their distribution was different. The shape and distribution of filiform papillae were different. On the dorsal tongue, the sulcus terminals, sulcus medianus linguae, and lingual prominence were absent in all the species.
In only the Furry Snouted Shrew Mole's anterior margin were the papillary projections markedly distinct from the lingual papillae of the tongues observed.