Morphological and Craniometric Features of the Skull of African Savanna Hare
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Morphometry of the African Savanna Hare skull Oyelowo et al. Animal species in this Issue Morphological and Craniometric Features of the Martens (Martes foina) Skull of African Savanna Hare (Lepus microtis) Found in North-Central Nigeria Fatima O. Oyelowo1, Ifukibot I. Usende1*, Idris A. Azeez2 and Abdulsalam E. Aminu1 1*Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria 2Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria With 6 figures & one table Received August, accepted for publication September 2017 Kingdom: Animalia & Phylum: Chordata & Class: Mammalia & Order: Carnivora & Sub- showed a foramen on the nasal order: Caniformia &Family: Mustelidae & Subfamily: Mustelinae, Genus: Martes & Spe- Abstract cies: N. foina African savanna hare (Lepus micro- bone and a non-serrated lateral margin of the margo supraorbital tis) belonging to the family Lepori- process of the frontal bone. The The beech marten (Martes foina), also known as the stone marten, house dae, is a placental mammal with maxilla was trabeculated while the marten or white breasted marten, is a species of marten native to much of Eu- vast economic and scientific im- temporal bone was spongy-like in rope and Central Asia, though it has established a feral population in North portance ranging from the major appearance. The palatine appeared America. While the pine marten is a forest specialist, the beech marten is a source of protein for the teaming perforated in a W-shape. For crani- more generalist and adaptable species, occurring in a number of open and for- population to models of laboratory ometric results, the skull weight was est habitats. and genetic studies as well as val- 13.4g with the mandible and 9.5g The beech marten has a somewhat longer tail, a more elongated and angular ued game reserve. The aim of this without the mandibles. While the head and has shorter, more rounded and widely spaced ears. Its nose is also of study was to investigate the mor- dorsal and ventral skull length was a light peach or grey colour, whereas that of the pine marten is dark black or phology and craniometric featuresof 10.5±0.8 and 7.3±0.9, the dorsal greyish-black. the skull of African savanna hare and ventral skull width was 3.1±0.2 the beech marten moves by creeping in a polecat-like manner, whereas the pine found in North-central Nigeria in an and 4.0±0.2 with a dorsal and ven- marten and sable move by bounds. The beech marten's fur is coarser than the attempt to provide basic anatomical tral skull index of 29.52 and 54.79 pine marten's, with elastic guard hairs and less dense underfur. Its summer coat data of this wild rodent. The African respectively. The orbital and cranial is short, sparse and coarse, and the tail is sparsely furred. The colour tone is savanna hare used were sampled capacities were 5.8±0.6 and lighter than the pine marten's. Unlike the pine marten, its underfur is whitish, ra- from Gwagwalada area council, 11.2±0.4, and this could aid the vi- ther than greyish. The tail is dark-brown, while the back is darker than that of the Federal capital territory, Abuja, Ni- sion and intelligence of this rodent. pine marten. geria. Morphological and cranio- Our findings have provided baseline metric measurements were con- Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia ducted on six skulls. Results information on the skull morphology J. Vet. Anat. 85 Vol. 10, No. 2, (2017) 85 - 107 Morphometry of the African Savanna Hare skull Oyelowo et al. and craniometrics of the African sa- Also serve as a model for popula- morphology and morphometry of the the bones. The solution was vannahare, which would be of bene- tion genetics (Alves et al., 2008). African savanna hare in an attempt changed daily for seven days. Ex- fit in understanding morphofunc- Recently, they have been seen as to contribute to information in this traneous tissues on the bones were tional and paleontological studies the subject of numerous interna- emerging field of anatomical studies picked using thumb forceps, after withemphasis on adaptive features tional translocation (Moores et al., of this wild rodent. brushing the muscle fibers and con- necessary for domestication of this 2012) and traditional medicine for nective tissues attached to the rodent. curing nearly 11 different ailments Materials and Methods bones with sponges (Ekeolu et al., including diarrhoea, stomach ache, Six (four males and two females) 2016). The bones were then burns and wound (Magige, 2015). African Savanna hares were used Keywords: Morphology, Morpho- washed in 0.5% sodium hypo- for this study. They were live- chlorite solution (bleach) for metrics, Orbits, Peculiarities, Lepus- Moores and Brown (2013) empha- trapped at Gwagwalada area coun- 24hours and removal of any remain- microtis, Cranial and Facial. sized the need for research by both cil, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, ing muscles and ligaments was professionals and amateur biolo- North central Nigeria. A veterinarian done. The skulls were left in the gists on this rodent as its identifica- physically examined all the hare, above solution for two changes of 3 Introduction tion has posed problems. In Africa, and there was no osteological de- hours each and then left to dry in African Savanna Hare (Lepus mi- different species of hares have been formity. Ethical approval was ob- sunlight. Specimens were photo- crotis) belongs to the family Lepori- identified based on their morpholog- tained from Animal Care and Use graphed using Olympus digital dae and order Lagomorpha (Kry- ical traits (Suchentrunk et al., 2006; Committee of the University of Abu- geret al., 2004).They are placental Palacios et al., 2008) such as body camera (FE-360). Digital venire cal- ja, Nigeria. Animals were transport- mammals’ varying in size from small size, ratio of width of mesopterygoid liper, ruler and thread were engaged ed in metal cages to the Department to medium sized (Chapman and space to minimum length of the in taking the linear measurement of Flux, 1990; Mengoni, 2011). They hard palate, teeth features and of Veterinary Anatomy, University of the various parts of the skull bones are generally herbivorous and long quantity of black coloration in the Abuja and immediately euthanized and mandible to the nearest eared and constitute the base of ear (Kingdon, 2013). Basically, the by lethal intraperitoneal injection of 0.01centimeters. All parameters many predator-prey interactions basis for its identification despite the xylazine (10mg/kg) and ketamine measured were as described by (Chapman and Flux, 1990; Men- conspecific report on their taxonomy (100mg/kg) (Usende et al., 2016) Sarma (2006) and Saber and goni, 2011). They are fast runners and distribution globally (Petter and thereafter the heads were col- Gummow (2014). and although they typically live soli- 1959; Slimen et al., 2005; Slimen et lected by cutting at the atlantooc- 1. Skull length (SL): taken as tarily, can shift hundreds of kilome- al., 2008) is the obvious russet area cipital joint. The heads were then the distance between the tres in response to environmental on the nape of the neck and its processed, and skulls were pre- highest point of the parietals changes or in search of food more coloured and roughed fur pared using cold water maceration to the middle of the rostral (Kryger et al., 2004). (Moores et al., 2012) but no particu- techniques described by Ekeolu et margin of the incisive bone. African Savanna hares have been lar emphasis has been placed on al., (2016) and Tahon et al., (2013) This was taken at the dorsal reported to be of economic and sci- the skull morphology; a good ana- with some modification. Briefly, the and ventral views and rec- orded as dorsal skull length entific importance due to their role tomical area of species identification heads were soaked in cold water and ventral skull length re- as a major food source of protein, a and to the best of our knowledge is with ammonium solution and sodi- spectively. model of laboratory animals, valued non-existent in the literature. um hydroxide overnight to remove 2. Skull width (SW): taken as game reserve and can provide sci- grease and soften the connective the distance between the entific insight into entire trophic sys- The aim of the present study, there- tissues and muscular attachment on tems (Chapman and Flux, 2008). fore, was to investigate the skull two zygomatic arches. This J. Vet. Anat. 86 Vol. 10, No. 2, (2017) 85 - 107 Morphometry of the African Savanna Hare skull Oyelowo et al. and craniometrics of the African sa- Also serve as a model for popula- morphology and morphometry of the the bones. The solution was vannahare, which would be of bene- tion genetics (Alves et al., 2008). African savanna hare in an attempt changed daily for seven days. Ex- fit in understanding morphofunc- Recently, they have been seen as to contribute to information in this traneous tissues on the bones were tional and paleontological studies the subject of numerous interna- emerging field of anatomical studies picked using thumb forceps, after withemphasis on adaptive features tional translocation (Moores et al., of this wild rodent. brushing the muscle fibers and con- necessary for domestication of this 2012) and traditional medicine for nective tissues attached to the rodent. curing nearly 11 different ailments Materials and Methods bones with sponges (Ekeolu et al., including diarrhoea, stomach ache, Six (four males and two females) 2016). The bones were then burns and wound (Magige, 2015). African Savanna hares were used Keywords: Morphology, Morpho- washed in 0.5% sodium hypo- for this study. They were live- chlorite solution (bleach) for metrics, Orbits, Peculiarities, Lepus- Moores and Brown (2013) empha- trapped at Gwagwalada area coun- 24hours and removal of any remain- microtis, Cranial and Facial.