Osteomorphometrical Study of Femur of the Leopard (Panthera Pardus)

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Osteomorphometrical study of femur of the leopard (Panthera pardus)

Devendra N. Podhade1*, A B Shrivastav2 and Rakhi Vaish3

1,2Centre for Wildlife Forensic and Health, NDVSU, Jabalpur (M.P.), India-482001 3Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur (M.P.), India -482001. Abstract Gross osteomorphometrical study was conducted on femur of adult *Corresponding Author: leopards. It was the longest bone of the appendicular skeleton of leopard. The shaft was regularly cylindrical except at the extremities. The mean Dr. Devendra N. Podhade circumference of the shaft was 7.17±0.15 cm, 6.55±0.08 cm and 7.97±0.22

Email: [email protected] cm at its upper, middle and lower parts, respectively. Proximal extremity of the femur comprised of head, greater trochanter, and deep trochanteric fossa. Trochanter major was lower in position than the head. The mean Received: 21/09/2013 circumference and width of the proximal extremity was 12.30±0.21 cm and 4.97±0.05 cm, respectively. Distal extremity of femur was larger than Revised: 27/10/2013 proximal extremity. It consisted of trochlea, cranially and condyles, caudally. The mean circumference and width of distal extremity were Accepted: 03/12/2013 14.92±0.63 cm and 4.61±0.06 cm respectively.

Keywords: Femur, leopard, morphology, morphometry, wildlife forensic

Introduction error as per the standard procedure (Panse and The Leopard is found throughout India with the Sukhatme, 1967; Snedecor and Cochran, 1994). exception of deserts and the Sundarban mangroves, it has a wide altitudinal range and occurs all along the Results and Discussion Himalayas except high-altitude deserts (Khan, 1986; Femur was the longest bone of the appendicular Daniel, 1996) and it is the most common and widely skeleton of leopard. It was strong, heavy and distributed species among large carnivores in India cylindrical, directed downward and forward in an (Johnsingh et al., 1991). Leopards are protected species oblique manner. It articulated with acetabulum to form in India come under schedule – I and all international hip joint and with, tibia, fibula and patella below to commercial trade in their body parts are banned. form stifle joint. It presented a shaft and two Bones of leopard are sometimes prescribed as extremities. substitutes for Tiger body parts [Pringle et al., 1999; The shaft was cylindrical except at the Sellar, 1999; Nowell, 2000) and this persistent belief in extremities (Fig 1). The present study tallied with the traditions, whether medicinal or folk based that leopard report of Pandit (1994) in tiger. The mean or other felid bones bring health or vigor to potential circumference of the shaft was 7.17±0.15 cm, consumers, may further increase pressure on the 6.55±0.08 cm and 7.97±0.22 cm at its upper, middle leopard. However, the international demand for bones and lower parts, respectively (Table 1). Lateral, medial continues to encourage poaching and illegal trade, and cranial surfaces were smooth except proximal part threatening the survival of the species. of the cranial surface was rough. The caudal surface The scientific information on bones of leopard is was rough in its upper third and smooth and expanded meager due to which identification of seized bones at its lower third (Fig 1) whereas Ray et al. (1996) become extremely difficult. Hence, the present study reported that caudal surface was flat and smooth in was carried out to illuminate the osteomorphometrical leopard. The lesser trochanter was in the form of a features of the femur of the leopard. small tuberosity, situated at the upper part of medial border (Fig 2). Distal part of the medial border Materials and Methods presented rough prominence known as medial Gross morphological and morphometric study supracondyloid crest in the form of rough prominence. was carried out on femur of four adult leopards. The At the same level, towards the lateral side, lateral data collected were analyzed for mean and standard supracondyloid crest was present.

Journal of Wildlife Research | October-December, 2013 | Vol 1 | Issue 1 | Pages 01-04 ©2013 Jakraya Publications (P) Ltd Podhade et al….Osteomorphometrical study of femur of the leopard (Panthera pardus)

Fig 1: Femur

Fig 2: Proximal extremity of femur

Proximal extremity of the femur comprised of head, al. (1996) recorded the same parameters 11.2 cm and greater trochanter, and deep trochanteric fossa. 14.00 cm receptively in the same species. The head of Trochanter major was lower in position than the head femur was smooth, spherical and placed medially (Fig 2). The mean circumference and width of the similar to that of tiger (Pandit, 1994). The mean proximal extremity measured 12.30±0.21 cm and circumference and diameter of the head was 7.85±0.10 4.97±0.05 cm, respectively (Table 1) whereas Ray et cm and 3.67±0.18 cm receptively. It articulated -

Journal of Wildlife Research | October-December, 2013 | Vol 1 | Issue 1 | Pages 01-04 ©2013 Jakraya Publications (P) Ltd 2 Podhade et al….Osteomorphometrical study of femur of the leopard (Panthera pardus)

Table 1: Mean and S.E. of different parameters of femur

S. No. Parameters Mean ± S.E. 1. Weight (gm) 121.63 ± 1.76 2. Length (cm) 24.82± 0.44 3. Shaft Length (cm) 20 ±0.52 Circumference (cm) Upper part 7.17 ±0.15 Middle part 6.55 ± 0.08 Lower part 7.97 ± 0.22 4. Height/ length of trochanter major (cm) 5.15 ± 0.22 5. Head Circumference (cm) 7.85 ± 0.10 Diameter(cm) 3.67 ± 0.18 6. Depth (cm) Trochanter fossa 1.60 ± 0.03 Intercondyloid fossa 1.47 ± 0.04 7. Proximal extremity Circumference(cm) 12.30 ± 0.21 Width(cm) 4.97 ± 0.05 8. Distal extremity Circumference(cm) 14.92± 0.63 Width(cm) 4.61 ± 0.06 9. Width of trochlea (cm) 2.25 ± 0.10 with the cotyloid cavity of oscoxae to form hip joint. greater and lesser trochanter and was oblique. This The fovea capitis was in the form of small depression observation coincided with that of the report of Pandit located slightly medial to the center. Neck was (1994) in tiger. Riser (1977) and Evans and Christensen prominent medially. On the lateral side of proximal (1979) had reported two trochanter in dog. Between extremity, there was compressed mass of bone known neck and greater trochanter, there was a deep as greater trochanter and had rough muscular lines for depression, the trochanteric fossa (Fig 2). The mean muscular attachment. Trochanteric ridge connected depth of trochanteric fossa was 1.60±0.03 cm.

Fig 3: Distal extremity of femur

Journal of Wildlife Research | October-December, 2013 | Vol 1 | Issue 1 | Pages 01-04 ©2013 Jakraya Publications (P) Ltd 3 Podhade et al….Osteomorphometrical study of femur of the leopard (Panthera pardus)

Distal extremity of femur was larger than intercondyloid fossa was wide and rough. The mean proximal extremity. It consisted of trochlea, cranially depth of intercondyloid fossa was 1.47±0.04 cm. and condyles, caudally. The mean circumference and width of distal extremity measured 14.92±0.63 cm and Conclusion 4.61±0.06 cm respectively (Table 1). The trochlea was The gross morphological and morphometrical 2.25±0.10 cm wide. The medial ridge of the trochlea parameters were established. The information obtained by the was lower and shorter than lateral ridge. The lateral study will be of academic importance. The data will be useful aspect of both the condyles was rough and presented to compare anatomical diversities among the same group. shallow depression. The lateral condyle was slightly lower in position than the medial condyle. The medial Acknowledgement condyle was regular and more convex than the lateral Authors are thankful to Vice-Chancellor, Nanaji condyle (Fig 3). However, Evans and Christensen Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, for (1979) reported that the medial condyle was smaller providing the necessary facilities to carry out the research and less convex than that lateral condyle in dog.The work.

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