Crole, Martina RachelSoley, John Thomson2015-09-182015-09Crole, MR & Soley, JT 2015, 'Contrasting morphological evidence for the presence of taste buds in Dromaius novaehollandiae and Struthio camelus (Palaeognathae, Aves)', Zoomorphology, vol. 134, no. 3, pp. 499-507.0720-213X (print)1432-234X (online)10.1007/s00435-015-0268-536143778600http://hdl.handle.net/2263/49993This study, facilitated by the use of immunohistochemistry, indicated the presence of taste buds in Dromaius novaehollandiae but not in Struthio camelus. Seen at the light microscope level, the taste buds consisted of follicular cells and receptor cells. The follicular cells were located at the periphery of the taste bud, essentially encapsulating the receptor cells. Two morphologically distinct receptor cells were identified. Immunohistochemical labelling for neurofilament identified gustatory nerves within the taste bud. The distribution of taste buds in D. novaehollandiae matched strategic locations in the oropharynx along which food could be sampled, according to the feeding method described for these birds. Future feeding studies would be necessary in D. novaehollandiae to determine the importance of taste discrimination in their diet. This study represents the first confirmed report of a sense of taste in any ratite species.en© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015. The original publication is available at : http://link.springer.comjournal/435.MorphologyNerve fibresPalaeognathaeRatitesTaste budsPostprint Article