Tongues of 51 Cape chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) were studied macroscopically and histologically to establish the normal structure and possible variations. The tongue was invariably spatulate in dorsal profile and ovoid in cross-section, and the portion anterior to the circumvallate papillae constituted 80% of its total length. Only minor variations were seen, such as accessory circumvallate papillae, differences in the number of lateral grooves in the foliate papillae, and the presence or absence of a central longitudinal dorsal fissure. No link was found between the place of origin or the sex of the animal and these variations. No condition resembling human plicated tongue, double fissures, central papillary atrophy (median rhomboid glossitis), lingual thyroid or geographic tongue was found.