Final answer:
Foliate papillae are the type of lingual papillae that are weakly developed in humans and lose most of their taste buds by early childhood. Therefore, the correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of lingual papillae in humans that are weakly developed and lose most of their taste buds by age 2 or 3 years are foliate papillae. Foliate papillae are leaf-like structures located in parallel folds along the edges and toward the back of the tongue. However, as individuals age, these papillae tend to lose most of their about 1,300 taste buds and are not as prominent in adults.