(Didelphis Marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758) in the Caribbean
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veterinary sciences Article Anatomical and Radiographic Study on the Skull and Mandible of the Common Opossum (Didelphis Marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758) in the Caribbean Reda Mohamed 1,2 ID 1 Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; [email protected]; Tel.: +645-3232-4206 2 Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt Received: 11 April 2018; Accepted: 18 April 2018; Published: 23 April 2018 Abstract: Common opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) are found throughout the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. The present work was conducted on 10 skulls and mandibles of the common opossum to describe the osteology and foramina of these skulls and mandibles grossly and radiographically. The information that is garnered can be used to detect, diagnose, and treat head affections, as well as for comparative studies with the skulls and mandibles of other similar species. The skulls and mandibles were prepared and cleaned using standard method. All of the characteristic features of various standards views of the skulls bones, including dorsal, lateral, caudal and midsagittal, and the lateral and caudal views of the mandibles as well as the foramina of the skulls and mandibles were described and discussed. Each skull was divided into long facial and short cranial regions. No supraorbital foramen was observed in the skulls. The tympanic bulla was absent while there was the tympanic process of the alisphenoid. The temporal process of the zygomatic bone, zygomatic process of maxilla, and zygomatic process of the squamosal bone formed the zygomatic arch. The dental formula was confirmed. The bones and foramina of the skull and mandible were similar to other marsupial species and were homologue to that of other mammals. Keywords: anatomy; radiographic; skull; opossum; marsupial; Caribbean 1. Introduction The genus Didelphis has six species of marsupials that are found only in the Americas, which are Didelphis marsupialis, Didelphis aurita, Didelphis albiventris, Didelphis pernigra, Didelphis virginiana, and Didelphis imperfecta [1]. Common opossums (D. marsupialis) are found throughout much of Central and South America and the Caribbean. They are characterized by a thick coat of fur, sharp claws, long whiskers, long tail, and black ring around both eyes as well as large black ears. The common opossum has an economic value as it is sold by hunters for meat in Trinidad and Tobago. The animal uses its head for deglutition and olfaction. The head of the animal has the vital organs, such as brain, eyes, ears, teeth, tongue, lips, and nose [2]. The skull gives the phylogenetic appearance of the head of animal species, such as the feline and the camel [3,4]. Moreover, the taxonomic affiliations can be detected via the skull morphology as mentioned in the camel and in the common shrew [4,5]. There was no description of the bones and foramina of the skull and mandible of the common opossum, except in the description, which was given in the white-eared opossum (D. albiventris) in Brazil [6], in the short-tailed opossum (D. Marsupialis)[7], and in the marsupial Marmosa murina [8]. Thus, the Vet. Sci. 2018, 5, 44; doi:10.3390/vetsci5020044 www.mdpi.com/journal/vetsci Vet. Sci. 2018, 5, 44 2 of 10 Vet. Sci. 2018, 5, x 2 of 10 aim of this study is to give a detailed gross and radiographic description of the bones and foramina of islandthe skull of andTrinidad mandible and Tobago. of the common This information opossum fromcould the be Caribbeanused in the island identification of Trinidad of the and skull Tobago. and Thismandible information of the common could be usedopossum, in the as identification well as to help of the the skull veterinarian and mandible to detect, of the diagnose, common opossum,and treat theas well head as affections to help the in veterinarianthis species. to detect, diagnose, and treat the head affections in this species. 2. Materials and Methods The skulls skulls of of ten ten (three (three male maless and and seven seven females) females) adult adult common common opossums opossums were were used. used. The Theopossums opossums were wereobtained obtained to use to for use research for research purpos purposeses in the School in the of School Veterinary of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, Faculty ofFaculty Medical of MedicalSciences, Sciences, University University of the West of theIndies West, Trinidad Indies, Trinidadand Tobago. and The Tobago. skulls The were skulls collected, were examinedcollected, examinedand prepared. and prepared. The skulls The were skulls free were from free an fromy skeletal any skeletaldeformities. deformities. The skulls The were skulls cut were at thecut atoccipitoatlantal the occipitoatlantal joint. joint.The skulls The skulls were wereboiled boiled to remove to remove the skin the skinand andmuscles muscles then then left to left dry to dryfor twofor two weeks. weeks. The The skulls skulls were were bleached bleached in ina sealed a sealed container container for for four four days days in in 3% 3% hydrogen hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, and then left to dry for two weeks [[9].9]. The gross and radiographic im imagesages of the skull were taken in different viewsviews (dorsal,(dorsal, ventral, ventral, caudal, caudal, and and midsagittal) midsagittal) for for documentation documentation using using a digital a digital camera camera and andSiemens Siemens mobile mobile full wave full wave X-ray X-ray machine machine (Siemens (Siemens Medical Medical Solutions, Solutions, Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany). Germany). The bones The bonesand foramina and foramina of the of skull the skull were we namedre named according according to Schimmingto Schimming et et al. al. [ 6[6],], Wible Wible [[7],7], andand Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria [[10].10]. 3. Results The skull of the opossum has an elongated facial region and short basicranial region. The bones and foramina of the two regions are described and documenteddocumented inin differentdifferent standardstandard views.views. 33.1..1. The Bones of the Facial Region The bonybony partpart of of the the face face is formedis formed by theby the nasal, nasal, lacrimal, lacrimal, and zygomaticand zygomatic (jugal) (jugal) bones bones in the dorsalin the dorsaland lateral and lateral aspects aspects of the skull;of the premaxilla,skull; premaxilla, maxilla maxilla in the dorsal,in the dorsal, lateral, lateral, and ventral and ventral aspects; aspects; of the ofskull the and skull pterygoid, and pterygoid, ethmoturbinate, ethmoturbinate, and vomer and bonesvomer in bones the ventral in the aspect ventral of theaspect skull. of Moreover,the skull. Moreover,the choanal the region choanal and region hard palate and hard are seenpalate in are the seen ventral in the aspect ventral of theaspect skull of (Figuresthe skull1 –(Figures3). 1–3). FigureFigure 1. Photograph 1. Photograph showing showing the lateral the lateral view view of the of sk theull skull and andmandible mandible of the of thecommon common opossum. opossum. 1. premaxilla1. premaxilla bone; 2. bone; nasal 2.bone; nasal 3. bone;maxilla 3. maxillabone; 4. bone;frontal 4. bone; frontal 5. bone;lacrimal 5. lacrimalbone; 6. bone;parietal 6. bone; parietal 7. squamosalbone; bone; 7. squamosal 8. zygomatic bone; process 8. zygomatic of squamosal process bone; of squamosal 9. zygomatic bone; bone; 9. zygomatic 10. external bone; sagittal 10. crest; external 11. mandible;sagittal arrow crest; head: 11. postorbital mandible; arrowprocess head: of frontal postorbital bone; star: process frontal of frontalprocess bone; of zygomatic star: frontal bone; process circle: temporalof zygomatic process of bone; zygomatic circle: bone; temporal a. infraorbital process of fo zygomaticramen; b. bone;mental a. foramina infraorbital; C1.foramen; canine teeth; b. mental P1–3. premolarforamina; teeth; C1.and, canine M1–4. teeth; molar P1–3. teeth. premolar teeth; and, M1–4. molar teeth. Vet. Sci.Vet2018. Sci, .5 2018, 44 , 5, x 3 of 10 3 of 10 Vet. Sci. 2018, 5, x 3 of 10 (A) (B) Figure 2. Images showing the gross anatomy (A) and radiography (B) of the ventral view of the skull Figure 2. Images showing the gross anatomy (A) and radiography (B) of the ventral view of the skull of the common opossum. (1.A )premaxilla bone; 8. zygomatic process of squamosal(B) bone; 14. jugular of the common opossum. 1. premaxilla bone; 8. zygomatic process of squamosal bone; 14. jugular process;Figure 15.2. Images palatine showing process the of gross maxilla; anatomy 16. palatine (A) and bone; radiography 17. vomer (B) bone; of the 18. ventral presphenoid view of the bone; skull 19. process; 15. palatine process of maxilla; 16. palatine bone; 17. vomer bone; 18. presphenoid bone; basisphenoidof the common bone; opossum. 20. basioccipital 1. premaxilla bone; bone; 1. tympanic8. zygomatic process process of ofthe squamosal alisphenoid; bone; 22. 14. zygomatic jugular 19. basisphenoidprocessprocess; of 15.maxilla; bone;palatine 23. 20. process pterygoid basioccipital of maxilla; bone; bone;41. 16. prearticular palatine 1. tympanic bone; process; 17. process vomer 42. retroarticular bone; of the 18. alisphenoid; presphenoid process; c.bone; 22.foramen zygomatic19. processmagnum;basisphenoid of maxilla; d. palatine 23.bone; pterygoid fissure;20. basioccipital e. bone;maxillopalatine 41.bone; prearticular 1. fenestra;tympanic process;palatine process fenestra;of 42. the retroarticular alisphenoid; g. caudal palatine 22. process; zygomatic foramen; c. foramen magnum;h.process choana; d. palatine of o.maxilla; caudal fissure; 23. alar pterygoid e.foramen; maxillopalatine bone; p. 41.carotic prearticular fenestra;canal; q.process; palatinetransverse 42. fenestra;retroarticular canal foramen; g. caudalprocess; r. stylomastoid palatinec. foramen foramen; h. choana;foramen;magnum; o. s. caudal hypoglossald. palatine alar fissure; foramen;canal; e. I1–5. maxillopalatine p.upper carotic incisor fenestra; canal; teeth; q. C1.palatinetransverse upper fenestra; canine canal g.teeth; caudal foramen;P1–3. palatine upper r.foramen; premolar stylomastoid foramen;teeth;h.