scholarly journals Pelvic bone structures in free-ranging Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from Switzerland: a radiological pelvimetry study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanny Morend ◽  
Johann Lang ◽  
Beatriz Vidondo ◽  
Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis

AbstractThe observation of severe pelvic malformations in Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from a population reintroduced to Switzerland raised the question as to whether inbreeding may contribute to the development of congenital pelvic malformations. We aimed at providing baseline data on the pelvic morphology of Eurasian lynx from the reintroduced populations in Switzerland, at assessing potential differences in pelvic conformation between the two main Swiss populations, among age classes and between sexes, and at detecting pelvic anomalies. We performed measurements of 10 pelvic parameters on the radiographs of 57 lynx of both sexes and different ages taken from 1997-2015. We calculated two ratios (vertical diameter/acetabula; sagittal diameter/transversal diameter) and two areas (pelvic outlet and inlet) to describe the shape of the pelvis. Our results showed that the Eurasian lynx is a mesatipelvic species, with a pelvis length corresponding to approximatively 20% of the body length. We found no statistically significant differences between the two examined populations but observed growth-related pelvis size differences among age groups. Sexual dimorphism was obvious in the adult age group only: two parameters reflecting pelvic width were larger in females, likely to meet the physiological requirements of parturition. By contrast, pelvis length, conjugata vera, diagonal conjugata, vertical diameter and sagittal diameter were larger in males, in agreement with their larger body size. Accordingly, the ratio between the sagittal and transversal diameters was significantly larger in males, i.e. adult males have a different pelvic shape than adult females. Furthermore, pelvimetry highlighted one adult individual with values outside the calculated reference range, suggesting a possible congenital or developmental pathological morphology of the internal pelvis. Our work generated baseline data of the pelvic morphology including growth and sexual dimorphism of the Eurasian lynx. These data could also be useful for estimating age and sex in skeletal remains.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe Premier ◽  
Martin Gahbauer ◽  
Franz Leibl ◽  
Marco Heurich

Oryx ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine S. Alexander ◽  
Jeremy J. Cusack ◽  
Chen Pengju ◽  
Shi Kun ◽  
Philip Riordan

AbstractIn high-altitude settings of Central Asia the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia has been recognized as a potential umbrella species. As a first step in assessing the potential benefits of snow leopard conservation for other carnivores, we sought a better understanding of the presence of other carnivores in areas occupied by snow leopards in China's Qilianshan National Nature Reserve. We used camera-trap and sign surveys to examine whether other carnivores were using the same travel routes as snow leopards at two spatial scales. We also considered temporal interactions between species. Our results confirm that other carnivores, including the red fox Vulpes vulpes, grey wolf Canis lupus, Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx and dhole Cuon alpinus, occur along snow leopard travel routes, albeit with low detection rates. Even at the smaller scale of our camera trap survey all five carnivores (snow leopard, lynx, wolf, red fox and dhole) were observed. Kernel density estimates suggested a high degree of temporal overlap between the snow leopard and the fox, and the snow leopard and the lynx, as indicated by high overlap coefficient estimates. There is an opportunity to consider protective measures at the local scale that would benefit various species simultaneously. However, it should also be recognized that snow leopard conservation efforts could exacerbate human–wildlife conflicts through their protective effect on other carnivore species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-152
Author(s):  
Mosmi Lomi ◽  
Jonathan Daniel M

Determining gender is one of the most important procedure in forensics. Teeth are made of the most enduring mineralized tissues in the body, as such, they have an extraordinary resistance to putrefaction and the effects of external agents (physical, thermal, mechanical, chemical or biological) which makes them invaluable material for anthropological, genetic, odontologic and forensic examinations.i)To assess the degree of sexual dimorphism in maxillary canine using maxillary canine index, maxillary first molar and central incisor using mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual/buccopalatal (BL) dimensions of the crown. ii) To determine the accuracy of maxillary canine index, first molar and central incisor dimensions (mesiodistal and buccolingual/buccopalatal) in determining sex.This study consisted of total 30 participants (males=15, females=15) of age group ranging from 20 to 35 yrs. Measurement of dimensions of selected teeth were performed on maxillary cast using digital Vernier caliper, resolution 0.01mm. Data thus obtained were analyzed statistically.The mean values of all the measurements in males were greater than females. There was statistical significant difference in mean value of bucco-lingual width of molar, mesiodistal width of canine (on left side, right side and average) and the inter-canine distance between males and females. The buccolingual width of molar showed the highest % of sexual dimorphism (5.33%) and the mesiodistal width of molar showed the least % of dimorphism (0.7%). Bucco-lingual width of molar posed the highest prediction accuracy for gender determination. We conclude that buccolingual width of maxillary first molar can be used to predict the gender when only teeth of maxillary arch are available for forensic examination.


Author(s):  
Reza Sadeghi ◽  
Firooz Bakhtiari-Nejad ◽  
Taha Goudarzi

Femur bone is the longest and largest bone in the human skeleton. This bone connects the pelvic bone to the knee and carries most of the body weight. The static behavior of femur bone has been a center of investigation for many years while little attention has been given to its dynamic and vibrational behavior, which is of great importance in sports activities, car crashes and elderly falls. Investigation of natural frequencies and mode shapes of bone structures are important to understand the dynamic and vibrating behaviors. Vibrational analysis of femoral bones is presented using finite element method. In the analysis, the bone was modeled with isotropic and orthotropic mechanical properties. The effect of surrounding bone muscles has also been accounted for as a viscoelastic medium embedding the femur bone. Natural frequencies extracted considering the effects of age aggravated by weakening the elastic modulus and density loss. The effects of real complex bone geometry on natural frequencies are studied and are compared with a simple circular cross-sectional model.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Martin ◽  
Chiara Romano

To date, the genus Amphiduros (Annelida: Hesionidae: Amphidurine) is considered as monotypic. Its single species, Amphiduros fuscescens (Marenzeller, 1875), is well characterised by lacking proboscideal papillae and emerging acicular chaetae, as well as by having three antennae, eight pairs of tentacular cirri and inflated dorsal cirri with characteristic alternating length and colour (transparent, with median orange band and white tips) in live animals. Three specimens, one male and two females, were found below boulders at 5–7 m depth in Punta Santa Anna, Blanes and Cala Maset, Sant Feliu de Guixols (Catalan Sea, NW Mediterranean, Iberian Peninsula). Our finding allowed us to describe different, unreported morphological traits and lead us to support the existence of sexual dimorphism (in terms of colouring, cirri morphology and distribution of sexual products along the body). Despite A. fuscescens having been previously reported from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean (particularly in SE French coasts), the specimens from Blanes represent the first record of the species from the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, our molecular results strongly support that Amphiduros pacificus Hartman, 1961 from California (currently synonymised with A. fuscescens) requires to be re-described and reinstalled as a valid species. In turn, our morphological observations support suggesting all other non-Mediterranean reports of A. fuscescens, including the species still under synonymy (i.e. Amphidrornus izukai Hessle, 1925 and Amphidromus setosus Hessle, 1925) as likely being a cryptic species complex whose the taxonomic status requires further assessment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 041-049
Author(s):  
Djalal Ardjoun Khalil ◽  
Mahamat Ibrahim Souleymane ◽  
Issa Youssouf ◽  
Madjina Tellah ◽  
Mopate Logtene Youssouf ◽  
...  

This work was carried out on the phenotypic characteristics of the Kababich sheep exploited in the peri-urban zone of N'Djamena (Chad). This phenotypic characterization of Kababich sheep should be continued on local breeds for genetic improvement and objective optimization of productivity. The objective of this study is the characterization of phenotypically Kababich sheep exploited in the peri-urban area of ​​N'Djamena-Chad. It was conducted in 39 farms and involved 1035 sheep aged less than one year old. Phenotypic traits were measured according to the guideline defined by FAO. A total of 12 variables were measured including five qualitative and seven quantitative. The results obtained show a positively significant correlation (p> 0.001) between the age of the sheep estimated by the breeder and the dentition (0.83). The ears are drooping and measure 17.90 ± 2.77 cm. The color of the brown dress (fawn) and the smooth and short coat are dominant. The females are matte and the rams of brown dress have horns in the forms of the vestiges. The Kababich is large with a height at the withers of 81.50 ± 9.40 cm, a rump height of 83.24 ± 9.42 cm and a chest circumference of 88.29 ± 9.22 cm. The body is 72.82 ± 9.63 cm long, has a basin width of 19.89 ± 2.53 cm and a chest depth of 40.68 ± 5.16 cm. These measurements show that Kababich is a meat breed by excellence. In addition, the sexual dimorphism very accentuated in this race orients towards a valorization of the young males in the fattening workshops.


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