COMPARATIVE GROSS ANATOMICAL STUDIES ON THE FREE  CAUDAL VERTEBRAE AND PYGOSTYLE OF KITE, CROW AND PIGEON  USING DERMESTID BEETLE TECHNIQUE

Masuood Ahmad John; Khursheed Ahmad; Firdous Ahmad Dar; Andleeb Rafiq; Abdur Rezzaque Choudhary; Massarat Khan; Abdul Qayoom Mir; Zahoor Ahmad Wani; Shabir Ahmed Mir

doi:10.48165/

Authors

Masuood Ahmad John Division of Veterinary Anatomy, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama - 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
Khursheed Ahmad Division of wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Benihamma, J&K (India)
Firdous Ahmad Dar Division of Veterinary Anatomy,S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama - 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
Andleeb Rafiq Division of Veterinary Anatomy, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama - 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
Abdur Rezzaque Choudhary Division of Veterinary Anatomy, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama - 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
Massarat Khan Incharge Dean, Faculty of Fisheries, SKUAST-K, Rangil - 190 006, J&K (India)
Abdul Qayoom Mir Clinical Veterinary Medicine,S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama - 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
Zahoor Ahmad Wani Division of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama - 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
Shabir Ahmed Mir Krishi Vigyan Kandra (Animal Science), SKUAST-K, Shopian, J&K (India)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/

Keywords:

Caudal vertebrae, crow, kite, pigeon, pygostyle

Abstract

The present study was aimed to study the gross anatomy of free caudal vertebrae and pygostyle of kite, pigeon and crow and compare individual vertebrae within and between the species. Twelve dead adult birds from each specie were used. The collected bones were prepared for study as per Dermestid Beetle Decomposition technique. The number of free caudal vertebrae in kite, pigeon and crow were 7, 6 and 6, respectively. The presence of bifid dorsal & ventral spine, and a distinct cranial articular process in initial segments was characteristic in kite. In pigeon, ventral spine was absent in 1st three caudal vertebrae while 6th caudal vertebra was ygostyle. In crow, ventral spine was absent in 1st two caudal vertebrae while in rest vertebrae it was tuberous. The length of transverse process in all the species was initially less, increased in middle region and reduced towards end. The last free caudal vertebra in pigeon lacked transverse process. The pygostyle was trapezoid in kite, triangular in crow and roughly quadrilateral in pigeon. The study revealed significant differences in caudal vertebrae within and between the species. The presence of cranaial articular processes and tuberculous structures suggested that free caudal vertebrae in kite were well-developed for strong catch hold to the skeletal muscles for better hunting. The pygostyle and free caudal vertebrae were more closely related in kite and crow than in pigeon.

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