Gross Morphological and Sex Wise Morphometrical Studies on Mandible of Adult Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Background: The Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is one of the biggest antelopes in Asia and is widely distributed in both the forests and adjoining villages with enough green grass.Methods: The present study was carried out on the mandible of six specimens of adult Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. The biometrical parameters were measured by scale, graduated tape and digital Vernier’s caliper. The statistical analysis of the recorded data was done by independent samples t-Test with Systat Software Inc, USA and SPSS 16.0 version software.Result: The mandible of Blue bull consisted of two rami, i.e. horizontal and vertical rami. The two halves of this bone fused incompletely at the mandibular symphysis, situated at the midline. The average length of horizontal ramus of mandible was found to be 24.7±1.02 cm in female, which was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 35.4±1.97 cm. Similarly, the average thickness of vertical ramus at the base was found to be 0.53±0.001 cm in female, which was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 0.80±0.002 cm. The average cranio-caudal length of mandibular notch was found to be 1.32±0.01 cm in female, which was significantly less (P less than 0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 1.44±0.02 cm. Most of the biometrical observations on different parameters of mandible of Blue bull were having significantly (P less than 0.05) more values in males than females. Conclusion: Most of the biometrical observations on different parameters of mandible of Blue bull were having significantly (p less than 0.05) more values in males than females. The present gross and biometrical studies would be useful to the wild life professionals for determination of sex of this animal and solving vetero-legal cases related with this species.

Morphology and Morphometry of Mandible of Stripped Hyena (Hyena hyena)

The morphological and morphometrical study of mandibles of hyena was carried out at Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh (Gujarat). The average weight, length and width of mandible was 0.221 kg, 14.25 cm and 1.84 cm, respectively. The mandible was formed by two symmetrical halves fused rostrally by symphysis. The average length of symphysis mandibularis was 4.75 cm. The alveolar border presented six alveoli for lower incisors, two large deep alveoli for canine teeth, three alveoli for premolars and one for molar teeth. The diastemal mandibular length was 2.69 cm. The mental foramen was one. The mandibular height up to condylar and coronoid processes were 9.16 and 6.74 cm, respectively. The distance of mandibular foramen from posterior border was 3.22 cm. The angular process was placed at caudal border of horizontal ramus and found pointed and laterally curved. The average length of angular process was 1.23 cm.

First report of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from the Gray Fossil Site (late Miocene or early Pliocene), Tennessee, USA

Thousands of vertebrate fossils have been recovered from the Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee, dating to the Miocene-Pliocene boundary. Among these are but eight specimens of bats representing two different taxa referable to the family Vespertilionidae. Comparison of the fossils with Neogene and Quaternary bats reveals that seven of the eight specimens pertain to a species of Eptesicus that cannot be distinguished from recent North American Eptesicus fuscus. The remaining specimen, a horizontal ramus with m3, is from a smaller vespertilionid bat that cannot confidently be assigned to a genus. Although many vespertilionid genera can be excluded through comparisons, and many extinct named taxa cannot be compared due to nonequivalence of preserved skeletal elements, the second taxon shows morphological similarities to small-bodied taxa with three lower premolar alveoli, three distinct m3 talonid cusps, and m3 postcristid showing the myotodont condition. It resembles especially Nycticeius humeralis and small species of Eptesicus. Eptesicus cf. E. fuscus potentially inhabited eastern North America continuously since the late Hemphillian land mammal age, when other evidence from the Gray Fossil Site indicates the presence in the southern Appalachian Mountains of a warm, subtropical, oak-hickory-conifer forest having autochthonous North American as well as allochthonous biogeographical ties to eastern Asia and tropical-subtropical Middle America.

MORPHOLOGY AND MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF MANDIBLE OF ASIATIC LION (Panthera leo), INDIAN TIGER (Panthera tigris) AND COMMON LEOPARD (Panthera pardus)

The morphology and morphometric study on mandibles of lion, tiger and leopard was carried out at Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh (Gujarat). The mandible is formed by two symmetrical halves fused rostrally by symphysis. The alveolar border presented six alveoli for lower incisors and two large deep alveoli for canine teeth. The average length of mandible was 19.08, 17.40 and 13.54 cm in lion, tiger and leopard, with the corresponding average mandible weight of 0.338, 0.271, and 0.145 kg, respectively. However, the width of mandible was significantly more in lion (3.28 cm) than that of tiger (2.51 cm) and leopard (1.71 cm). The mandibular height up to condyle and coronoid process in lion, tiger and leopard was 4.17 and 9.24, 4.19 and 9.16, 3.04 and 7.14 cm, respectively. Both the heights were significantly higher in lion and tiger than those of leopard. The average length of symphysis-mandibularis was significantly higher in lion (6.58 cm) and tiger (6.68 cm) than leopard (4.47 cm). The mental foramina were three in tiger and two in lion and leopard, and they were deeper in lion and tiger than the leopard. The angular process was placed at caudal border of horizontal ramus and found blunt and medially curved in all three species.

Locking compression plate osteosynthesis of complicated mandibular fractures in six horses

SummaryComplicated mandibular fractures were recognised in one foal, one pony and four horses. The foal was two months old while the adult animals ranged in age from 12 to 24 years. Three horses had a unilateral horizontal ramus fracture. Two fractures were open and one was closed. Comminution was present in one of these patients while the other two horses had marked displacement of the fragments. Two suffered from comminuted fractures of the horizontal and vertical ramus of the mandible. One of these patients had open and infected fractures. One foal had a bilateral horizontal ramus fracture with marked periosteal ‘new bone’ formation and malalignement which required corrective osteotomy. Each horse underwent locking compression plate (LCP) osteosynthesis consisting of open fracture reduction and application of one to three 4.5/5.0 mm LCP at the ventral, lateral or caudal aspect of the mandible under fluoroscopic control. Two 3.5 mm LCP were used in the foal. Plate fixation was supported by application of a cerclage wire construct between the incisor and premolar teeth in most patients. Complete fracture healing, with an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome, was achieved in all of the patients. Complications encountered included seroma formation, screw and wire breakage, as well as implant and apical tooth root infections. The LCP was removed after fracture healing had occurred in four patients.

The oldest Camelidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) of Africa : new finds from the Mio-Pliocene boundary, Chad

A fragment of mandible and two metapodials complete unearthed from the fossiliferous aera of Kossom Bougoudi (KB3 and KB26), northern Chad are described. A comparative study allows to assign these specimens to Paracamelus gigas. The evolutionnary degree is compatible with an age around the Mio-Pliocene boundary (ca 5 Ma). Then, the Chadian remains are the oldest adequately dated record of this family in Africa. They are contemporaneous with the oldest known evidence of the genus Paracamelus from the late Miocene of Asia and Europe. Introduction. – During several field seasons in northern Chad, the “Mission Paléoanthropologique Franco-Tchadienne” (M. P. F. T) discovered new sites in the Kossom Bougoudi (KB) fossiliferous area, west of australopithecine sites [Brunet et al., 1995, 1997; Brunet and M.P.F.T, 2000]. These sites yielded a rich vertebrate fauna (fish, reptiles, birds and mammals), and have been biochronologically dated at around 5 Ma old, close to the Mio-Pliocene boundary [Brunet and M. P. F.T, 2000]. Among the mammal fauna, some remains of Camelidae provide the earliest evidence of this group in Africa, which was previously thought to be younger than 4 Ma, at Laetoli [Harris, 1987] and Koobi Fora [Harris, 1991]. Specimens from sites KB3 and KB26 are described here. Description Material : KB3.97.316 : right mandible fragment with p3, p4-m1 roots and m2-m3 teeth; KB3.99.03 : right metatarsus; KB26.97.03 : right metatarsus The mandible is rather robust with a high horizontal ramus. The mental foramen is located below m1. The p3 alveolus and p4 roots attest elongated premolars. The lingual face of the molars is flat. The third lobe of m3 is less labially shifted than in the living camels. There is no cement, nor cingulum. The metatarsals are long and robust (tab. III), and show a deep groove on the proximal anterior and posterior faces. The distal condyles are divergent and separated by a deep interarticular notch. They are symmetrical and of the same size differences, in contrast with the extant species where the external condyle is more slender than the internal one. Comparison. – The mandible (KB3.97.316) differs from the Camelus species mandible by having (1) a robust and deeper horizontal ramus, (2) a well developed p3, (3) a third lobe of m3 less labially shifted (4) Chadian metatarsals are morphologically different from those the living camels and being extremely long (tab. II). All characters of the Chadian specimens are congruent with Zdansky’s [1926] and Teilhard and Trassaert’s [1937] descriptions of genus Paracamelus. The KB horizontal ramus is deeper than that of P. alutensis (tab. I) from the early Pleistocene of Oltet Valley, Romania [Stefanescu, 1910]. The premolar row is longer. Unfortunately, a detailed comparison with P. aguirrei from the late Miocene (MN13) of Venta del Moro and Librilla, Spain is impossible because this species was defined on skeletal elements (upper molars, calcaneum, phalanxes) not yet recovered from Chad. However, the estimated alveolar length of p3 (20 mm) is similar to those of P. aguirrei (18,8 – 21,6 mm according to Morales [1984]). Lengths of KB tooth row (tab. I) and metatarsals (tab. II) fit into the range of variation recorded by Zdansky [1926] and by Teilhard and Trassaert [1937] for P. gigas from the late Miocene of China. The Chadian material cannot be assigned to the species P. alexejevi from the Pliocene (MN15) of Ukraine, because this species is smaller than P. aguirrei and P. gigas [Morales, 1984]. In conclusion, specimens from Chad do not display any important difference with Chinese species P. gigas and can tentatively be referred to this species. Biochronology and paleobiogeography. – The earliest known Old World camel correspond to P. aguirrei from the late Miocene (MN13) of Venta del Moro and Librilla in Spain [Morales et al., 1980; Made and Morales, 1999]. After Made and Morales [1999], this species is probably the ancestor of P. alexejevi from of Odessa Catacombs (MN15), Ukraine. In Europe, the chronological range of P. alutensis covers the Plio-Pleistocene. This species is present in the lower Pleistocene of Oltet Valley, Romania [Stefanescu, 1910] and in the early and Middle Pliocene (MN16) of Russia [Baigusheva, 1971]. It is also present in the late Pliocene of Sarikol Tepe, Turkey [Kostopoulos and Sen, 1999]. In China, the earliest record of P. gigas is about 5.5 Ma [Flynn, 1997; Made and Morales, 1999]. In conclusion the chronological range of Paracamelus is from the late Miocene to the Pleistocene. However, the Chadian specimens size is close to P. gigas (first occurrence in China around 5.5 Ma) and P. aguirrei from late Miocene (MN13) of Europe. The occurrence of Paracamelus at KB and its absence from the younger Chadian sites (3-4 Ma) of Koro-Toro and Kollé [Brunet et al., 1995; 1996] as well as in the Plio-Pleistocene localities of Africa, are congruent with an age close to the Mio-Pliocene boundary for the sites of KB. This interpretation is confirmed by the associated fauna, that indicates ca 5 Ma old for the whole of KB fossiliferous area [Brunet and M.P.F.T, 2000]. The age of the Chadian Paracamelus is close to the Mio-Pliocene boundary, slightly younger than specimens from late Miocene of China [Zdansky, 1926; Flynn, 1997], Spain [Morales et al., 1980] and Turkey [Made et al., 2002]. This demonstrates that the group had a wider distribution than previously thought. It indicates that the Camelidae reach a widespread distribution soon after their arrival from northern America [Webb, 1965; Pickford et al., 1993]. Conclusion. – The Chadian material displays distinctive features which allows to refer it to Paracamelus gigas. This taxon, poorly documented in Eurasia, has not been previously recognised in Africa. It will contribute to deciphering the phylogenetic relationships between various species of Paracamelus and the extant Camelus.