Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 19 ISSUE 3
Written by Alexandra BLENDEA, Cristian Sergiu BARDAS, Flaviu TUNS , Aurel DAMIAN
The study has been carried out in order to assess the anatomic characteristics specific to the neurocranium in some wild species: wolf (Canis lupus), marten (Martes foine) and fox (Vulpes vulpes). The differentiation of the neurocranium is made very difficult in the mentioned species, for reason which it is important to know the morphological peculiarities of the skeleton of these wild carnivorous animals. For this study, we have used corpses of animals of different genders and ages, originated in woodlands and zoos from Transylvania. They have been processed through known anatomic techniques until bone parts have been obtained in the Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy within the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Cluj- Napoca. The methods used during the dissection and the processing of the bone parts consisted of visual observation and macroscopic analysis of each and every bone. The sagittal crest and the mastoid process are well developed at the three species studied. Two side holes have been noticed on each side of the occipital condyle at wolf, while these do not exist at marten and fox. The zygomatic process of frontal bone is little developed at marten, the supraorbital hole does not exist in all the examined species, and the external protuberance of the occipital has been only noticed at fox and marten, as a distinct entity. The study has highlighted some characteristics of the bones which are part of the neurocranium, that will lead to exact assessment of the skull descent species in wolf, fox and marten.
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