Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXVII, Issue 2
Written by Petronela Mihaela ROŞU, Bogdan GEORGESCU, Ștefania Mariana RAITA, Cristian BELU, Letiția PURDOIU, Gabriel PREDOI
The study aims to analyze and describe the morphological characteristics of the skull in the dwarf kangaroo (Macropus rufogriseus). The morphological peculiarities of the skull can be useful elements for the recognition of the species. Data from the literature on the morphology of the skull in this species is limited and mostly focuses on the peculiarities of the muscles in the head. An adult dwarf kangaroo, who died of natural causes was used for this study. The study of the morphological features of the skull leadto the following conclusions: the skull is compact and elongated, the viscerocranium is more developed than the neurocranium, the external sagittal crest is absent, the zygomatic process of the frontal is replaced by a rounded crest separating the frontal surface from the orbital one, two lacrimal foramina are present, the horizontal portion of the palatine is narrow and provided with 8-10 caudo-lateral palatine foramina, there is no alar hole nor channel, the zygomatic bone has a salient spine in the rostral direction.
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