Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is the largest species of its genus and, despite its wide distribution throughout the Americas, it is included on the main list of endangered species. Its conservation has been widely studied, but there is a lack of studies regarding its morphology. The morphology, measurements, and location of the salivary glands in wild felids are fundamental, as they provide basic information for understanding the biology of these species. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (018/2017). Anatomical dissections were performed on the cadavers of two adult female ocelots. In the specimens studied, the parotid (PG), mandibular (MG), molar (MolG), sublingual (SLG), and zygomatic (ZG) salivary glands were identified in both antimeres. The length, width, thickness, and weight of the glands were measured, revealing individual variations among the analyzed specimens. Information on the anatomy of salivary glands in wild animals is scarce. The description of these glands in wild felids is important, as it may facilitate clinical treatments and provide information for professionals working in zoos and conservation units.
References
Abouelela, Y. S., Fargali, H. Á., Ahmed, Z. S. O., & Reem, R. T. (2022). Anatomy and morphometry of major salivary glands of domestic cats with relation to their histological features. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 42(1), 81-87.
Amano, O., Mizobe, K., Bando, Y., & Sakiyama, K. (2012). Anatomy and histology of rodent and human major salivary glands. Acta Histochemica et Cytochemica, 45(5), 241-250. https://doi.org/10.1267/ahc.12013. PMid:23209333.
Barrantes Murillo, D. F., Brinker, E. J., Rissi, D. R., Porter, B. F., & Negrão Watanabe, T. T. (2025). A retrospective study of benign epithelial salivary gland neoplasia in 11 dogs and 5 cats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 37(5), 806-812. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387251329526. PMid:40503614.
Bassanino, J., Palierne, S., Blondel, M., & Reynolds, B. S. (2019). Sublingual sialocele in a cat. JFMS Open Reports, 5(1), 2055116919833249. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055116919833249. PMid:30834132.
Caso, A., Lopez-Gonzalez, C., Payan, E., Eizirik, E., Oliveira, T., Leite-Pitman, R., Kelly, M. & Valderrama, C. (2015). Leopardus pardalis. In International Union for Conservation of Nature (Ed.), The IUCN red list of threatened species. Gland: IUCN.
Costa, E. P., Flores, F. S., Cassanego, G. R., Ferreira, P. I., Souza, J. M., & Flôres, L. S. (2021). Morphological aspects of the molar gland in lion (Panthera leo). Brazilian Journal of Development, 7(9), 87614-87621. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv7n9-090.
Dyce, K. M., Sack, W. O., & Wensing, C. J. G. (2019). Tratado de anatomia veterinária (5. ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Elsevier.
El-Kordy, E. A., Alanazi, A. D., Ali, S. S., Makhlouf, M. M. M., & Rabah, S.O. (2014). Histological, histochemical and ultrastructural changes in the submandibular gland of starved young male cats. Journal of Cytology & Histology, 5(4), 252-260. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7099.1000252.
Kardong, K. V. (2016). Vertebrados: Anatomia comparada, função e evolução (7. ed.). São Paulo: Roca.
Lieske, D. E., & Rissi, D. R. (2020). A retrospective study of salivary gland diseases in 179 dogs (2010-2018). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 32(4), 604-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638720932169. PMid:32687011.
Machado, L. C., Roballo, K. C. S., Cury, F. S., & Ambrósio, C. E. (2017). Female reproductive system morphology of crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) and cryopreservation of genetic material for animal germplasm bank enrichment. Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia, 46(6), 539-546. https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12306. PMid:28913836.
Mohammadpour, A. A. (2009). Investigations on the shape and size of molar and zygomatic salivary glands in shorthair domestic cats. Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 12, 221-225.
Mohammadpour, A. A. (2010). Anatomical and histological study of molar salivary gland in domestic cat. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research, 11(2), 164-167.
Oliveira, T. G., & Cassaro, K. (2005). Guia de campo dos felinos do Brasil. São Paulo: Instituto Pró-Carnívoros/ Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo.
Pereira, K. F., Souza, D. R., Ferreira, L. S., Chela, P. R., Helrigle, C., & Araújo, E. G. (2012). Morphological aspects of the salivary glands of crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus). Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences, 35(1), 99-103. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i1.12675.
Pereira, T. S. B., & Faria Júnior, W. H. (2018). Anatomical description of the salivary glands: Parotid, mandibular and sublingual of the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous). Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences, 40(1), 37528. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v40i1.37528.
Pereira, T. S. B., Silva, A. L. D. A., Cruvinel, T. M. A., Passarelli, P. M., Loureiro, M. E. R., & Marques, V. B. (2020). Anatomical characteristics of the major salivary glands of puma (Puma concolor). Ciência Animal Brasileira, 21, e58511. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v21e-58511.
Santos, A. C., Bertassoli, B. M., Oliveira, V. C., Rosa, R. A., Carvalho, A. F., & Mançanares, C. A. F. (2010). Caracterização morfológica das glândulas salivares mandibulares dos quatis (Nasua nasua). Rev Fac Zootec Vet Agron., 17(2), 276-286.
Santos, A. C., Bertassoli, B. M., Oliveira, F. D., Oliveira, D. M., Oliveira, V. C., Vasconcelos, B. G., Oliveira, D. M., Leão, D. A., Carvalho, A. F., Mançanares, C. A. F., & Assis Neto, A. C. (2012). Estrutura macro e microscópica das glândulas salivares parótidas em duas espécies de procionídeos: Mão-pelada (Procyon cancrivorus) e quati (Nasua nasua). Biotemas, 25(1), 93-101. https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2012v25n1p93.
Vallefuoco, R., Jardel, N., El Mrini, M., Stambouli, F., & Cordonnier, N. (2011). Parotid salivary duct sialocele associated with glandular duct stenosis in a cat. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 13(10), 781-783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2011.06.003. PMid:21821453.
World Association of Veterinary Anatomists – WAVA, International Committee on Veterinary Gross Anatomical Nomenclature. (2017). Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria (N.A.V.). Knoxville.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Letícia Victal Pereira, Anieli Vidal Stocco, Raquel Batista Junger de Carvalho, Carlos Augusto Santos Sousa, Paulo Souza Júnior, Marcelo Abidu-Figueiredo