Indian Journal of Animal Research

  • Chief EditorK.M.L. Pathak

  • Print ISSN 0367-6722

  • Online ISSN 0976-0555

  • NAAS Rating 6.50

  • SJR 0.263

  • Impact Factor 0.4 (2024)

Frequency :
Monthly (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December)
Indexing Services :
Science Citation Index Expanded, BIOSIS Preview, ISI Citation Index, Biological Abstracts, Scopus, AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Submit

Research Article

Indian Journal of Animal Research, volume 55 issue 3 (march 2021) : 277-282

Comparative Gross Anatomical Studies on Pelvic Limb Long Bones of Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) and Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica)

O.P. Choudhary1,*, Priyanka2, P.C. Kalita1, R.S. Arya3, T.K. Rajkhowa3, P.J. Doley1, A. Kalita1, Keneisenuo1
1Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), SeDepartment of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Selesih, Aizawl-796 015, Mizoram, India.lesih, Aizawl-796 015, Mizoram, India. 
2Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Jalukie, Peren-797 110, Nagaland, India.
3Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Selesih, Aizawl-796 015, Mizoram, India.
Cite article:- Choudhary O.P., Priyanka, Kalita P.C., Arya R.S., Rajkhowa T.K., Doley P.J., Kalita A., Keneisenuo (2020). Comparative Gross Anatomical Studies on Pelvic Limb Long Bones of Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) and Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica) . Indian Journal of Animal Research. 55(3): 277-282. doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-3957.

ABSTRACT

There is no previously reported information on the morphological characteristics of pelvic limb long bones (femur, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus) in crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate morphological and biometrical characteristics of pelvic limb long bones in crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl. The femur consisted of a curved shaft and two extremities. The shaft was wider proximally and distally and presented medial, lateral, anterior and lateral surfaces. The anterior, medial and lateral surfaces were smooth and continuous in both the species. An intermuscular line called linea aspera was present on the anterior and posterior surfaces in both the species. The proximal and distal extremities of the femur were almost of equal size. The proximal extremity presented a distinct, hemispherical head which was located in the level of the trochanter major in both the species. The distal extremity furnished a trochlea anteriorly for patella and medial, lateral condyles posteriorly for tibiotarsus bone. The patella was small and triangular and consisted of two surfaces, two borders, a base and an apex in both the species. Tibiotarsus was the longest bone in both the species which was formed by the fusion of distal extremity of the tibia with the proximal row of the tarsal bones. The proximal and distal extremity of the tibiotarsus consisted of medial and lateral condyles. In both the species, the fibula was a rod-shaped bone and reached up to distal third of the lateral border of the tibiotarsus. The tarsometatarsus was a long bone but smaller than tibiotarsus in both the species. Various biometrical parameters of the pelvic limb long bones were more in the crested serpent eagle as compared to the brown wood owl due to species differences. 

INTRODUCTION

The crested serpent eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across the tropical Asia and; brown wood owl is a resident breeder in south Asia and is found in from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Taiwan and South China (Choudhary et al., 2018, 2019b; Keneisenuo et al., 2019a, b, c).
 
The literature is available on the gross anatomy of femur of domestic fowl, guinea fowl and ostrich (Venkatesan et al., 2006), tibiotarsus and fibula of peahen, Indian eagle-owl (Sreeranjini et al., 2013; Sarma et al., 2018), tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus of emu, cattle egret and Indian eagle-owl (Kumar and Singh 2014; Rezk 2015; Sarma et al., 2018), there is no previously reported information on morphological characteristic of pelvic limb long bones in crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl. So, the present study was planned with an aim to evaluate morphological and biometrical characteristics of pelvic limb long bones (femur, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus) in crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl. The baseline data generated on gross morphological and biometrical aspects on pelvic limb long bones in these species can be used by clinicians in treating surgical and other clinical disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The specimens were procured from four crested serpent eagle and four brown wood owls, brought from Zoological Park, Aizawl for post mortem examination to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Aizawl, Mizoram. After post-mortem examination, the collected specimens were macerated by boiling maceration technique for 1-2 hours (Choudhary et al., 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019a and Choudhary and Singh, 2015, 2016). The macerated bone samples were kept in 3% hydrogen peroxide for one day to make bones whitish in colour. These processed samples were utilized for gross anatomical studies and were compared with those of other flying birds. The length and width of bones at different sites were measured by thread, scale and digital Vernier caliper and have been summarized in Table 1. The data obtained were subjected to routine statistical analysis (Snedecor and Cochran, 1994).
 

Table 1: Different parameters of pelvic limb long bones in crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl in centimeters.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Femur
 
The femur (Fig 1, 2) consisted of a curved shaft and two extremities. The shaft was wider proximally and distally and presented medial, lateral, anterior and lateral surfaces. The anterior, medial and lateral surfaces were smooth and continuous in both the species as mentioned in domestic fowl (Kind and McLelland, 1975). The lateral surface was rough on the proximal end for muscular attachment and continued to trochanter major in both species as reported in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). An intermuscular line called linea aspera was present on the anterior and posterior surfaces in both the species as reported in domestic fowl and guinea fowl (Venkatesan et al., 2006). The intermuscular line was well marked on the posterior surface and extended distally up to medial condyle in both the species similar to peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). The intermuscular line was bifurcated in two lines at the distal third of tibiotarsus and extended up to medial and lateral trochlear ridges in brown wood owl; however, the bifurcation was not reported in crested serpent eagle.
 

Fig 1: Anterior view of the femur of the crested serpent eagle


 

Fig 2: Posterior view of the femur of the crested serpent eagle


 
The proximal and distal extremities were almost of equal size. The proximal extremity presented a distinct, hemispherical head which was located in the level of the trochanter major in both the species. The head contained a deep fovea capitis in brown wood owl as compared to that of crested serpent eagle however the fovea capitis was absent in emu (Lakshmi et al., 2007). The head was separated from the shaft by a distinct neck in both the species as reported in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). The lesser trochanter was indistinct in both the species as in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013); however, the lesser trochanter was in the form of tubercle in emu (Lakshmi et al., 2007). The trochanter major furnished a facet for articulation with the antitrochanter of the ilium bone in both the species as mentioned in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). One pneumatic foramen was present on the anterior surface below the trochanter major in crested serpent eagle however the same pneumatic foramen was absent in the brown wood owl. Venkatesan et al., (2006) also reported large pneumatic foramen on the posterior surface immediately below the head in ostrich. It can be concluded that the crested serpent eagle had more flying ability as compared to that of brown wood owl due to the presence of the pneumatic foramen on the femur bone.

The distal extremity furnished a trochlea anteriorly for patella and medial, lateral condyles posteriorly for tibiotarsus bone as also reported in domestic fowl and guinea fowl (Venkatesan et al., 2006) and peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). The trochlea was bounded by the two ridges separated by the deep trochlear groove in both the species as also mentioned in domestic fowl, guinea fowl and ostrich (Venkatesan et al., 2006). The trochlear ridges were almost equal in both the species as reported in turkey (Venkatesan et al., 2006), however, the lateral trochlear ridge was prominent in ostrich (Venkatesan et al., 2006). The condyles were separated by an intercondyloid groove that contained pneumatic foramen in crested serpent eagle; however the same foramen was absent in the brown wood owl. The larger lateral condyle was placed at a lower level as mentioned in fowl (Nickel et al., 1977) and peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). The lateral condyle presented a distinct groove, which consisted of an articular area on the posterolateral aspect for the head of the fibula as stated in domestic birds (Nickel et al., 1977).

The patella (Fig 4) was small and triangular in both the species. The patella consisted of two surfaces, two borders, a base and an apex in both the species. The base was broader and apex was concave in the present study. Lakshmi et al., (2007) reported the absence of patella in emu.
 
Tibiotarsus
 
The tibiotarsus (Fig 3, 4) was the longest bone in both the species which was formed by the fusion of distal extremity of the tibia with the proximal row of the tarsal bones as reported in cattle egret (Rezk, 2015) and Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018).
 

Fig 3: Anterior view of the tibiotarsus and fibula of the crested serpent eagle


 

Fig 4: Posterior view of the tibiotarsus of the crested serpent eagle


 
The tibiotarsus consisted of a shaft and two extremities. The shaft was straight and consisted of three surfaces i.e. medial, lateral and posterior in both species. The shaft presented a distinct fibular crest just below the lateral condyle in both the species for the attachment of the shaft of the fibula as reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). The nutrient foramen was present in the middle of the lateral surface as mentioned in emu (Kumar and Singh, 2014). However, the nutrient foramen was observed proximal to the extensor canal in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). A distinct bony ridge was seen on the distal third of the medial border in brown wood owl as mentioned in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018); however, the bony ridge was absent in the crested serpent eagle.
 
The proximal extremity presented medial and lateral condyles. The medial condyle was larger than the lateral condyle in both species as reported in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013) and Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). The medial and lateral condyles were separated by a ridge in both the species. These condyles articulated with the condyles of femur to form femorotibial articulation. The lateral border of lateral condyle presented a facet for articulation with the head of the fibula in both the species. A sharp cranial cnemial crest was present at the proximal end of tibiotarsus in both the species as also observed in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013), cattle egret (Rezk, 2015) and Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). The crest was more prominent in the crested serpent eagle as compared to that of brown wood owl in the present study. This crest provided an attachment site for the extensor muscles of the knee joint (McLelland 1990). Another cnemial crest was also observed caudolateral to the cranial cnemial crest in both the species and was longer in the brown wood owl. Al-Sadi (2012), Rezk (2015) and Sarma et al., (2018) also reported the presence of two cnemial crests in turkey, cattle egret and Indian eagle owl, respectively. An intercnemial sulcus was present in between these two crests in both the species as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). The sulcus was deeper in brown wood owl as compared to that of crested serpent eagle. Proximally both crests were connected by an oblique patellar crest as reported in cattle egret (Rezk, 2015) and Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). The medial and lateral condyles at proximal extremity were separated by a notch as mentioned in cattle egret (Rezk, 2015) and Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018).

The distal extremity presented small medial and large lateral condyles anteriorly separated by the intercondyloid fossa as also mentioned in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). The lateral condyle was at a slightly higher level than the medial condyle. Extensor canal (Fig 1) was seen immediately proximal to the condyles in both the species as observed in peahen (Sreeranjini et al., 2013) and Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018), however, the extensor canal was absent in brown wood owl in the present study. The condyles extended caudally to constitute wide grooved trochlea with medial and lateral trochlear ridges in both the species. There were depressions on either side of the condyles for the attachment of collateral ligaments of hock join in both the species as seen in fowl (Getty 1975). The extensive articular surface provided by the condyles and trochlea permits a great deal of movement of the hock joint (Fitzgerald, 1969).
 
In both the species, the fibula (Fig 3, 4) was a rod-shaped bone and reached up to distal third of the lateral border of the tibiotarsus and remain fused with it as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). It presented a distinct head and rudimentary shaft (Fig 1). The head was for the articulation with the lateral condyle of the tibiotarsus. The shaft of the fibula was needle-like and body had a rough area for attachment with the fibular crest of the tibiotarsus and thus enclosed proximal and distal interosseous spaces in both the species as mentioned in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018).
 
Tarsometatarsus
 
The tarsometatarsus (Fig 5, 6) was a long bone but smaller than tibiotarsus in both the species as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). It was formed by metatarsal bones II, III and IV, which were fused with each other and with distal tarsal bones as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018) and chicken (Tully et al., 2003; Tahon et al., 2013). The tarsometatarsus presented a shaft and two extremities (proximal and distal extremity) in both the species.

Fig 5: Anterior view of the tarsometatarsus of the crested serpent eagle (


 

Fig 6: Posterior view of the tarsometatarsus of the crested serpent eagle


 
The shaft presented longitudinal medial and lateral crests on both anterior and posterior surfaces in both the species. The crests were more prominent on the posterior surface in brown wood owl as compare to that of crested serpent eagle. This area bears a deep fossa at proximal end where internal and external foramen opens. The distal vascular foramen was observed on the anterior surface just above the lateral trochlear cleft in both the species as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). A longitudinal groove known as flexor sulcus bounded by medial and lateral crest was observed over the posterior surface of the shaft of the tarsometatarsus bone in both the species as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). This groove was deeper in brown wood owl as compare to that of crested serpent eagle. The articular facet for the first digit was present posteromedially on the distal third of the shaft of tarsometatarsus in both the species.

The proximal extremity presented two concave articular facets (medial and lateral cotyle) for articulation with the condyles of tibiotarsus bone. The lateral facet (lateral cotyle) was separated from the medial facet (medial cotyle) by a distinct bony protuberance in brown wood owl as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018) and cattle egret (Rezk 2015), whereas the bony protuberance was not observed in crested serpent eagle in the present study and emu (Kumar and Singh 2014). There was hypotarsus medially on the posterior surface of proximal extremity in both the species. Internal and external proximal foramen was present on either side of the hypotarsus in both the species as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). These foramina were more prominent in crested serpent eagle as compared to that of brown wood owl.

The distal extremity consisted of three trochlea (medial, middle and lateral) separated by two intertrochlear clefts (medial and lateral) representing metatarsal bone II, III and IV in both the species. The medial trochlea was larger and middle trochlea presented a distinct groove in both the species as also mentioned in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018). The medial intertrochlear cleft was wider than the lateral intertrochlear cleft in brown wood owl as also reported in Indian eagle-owl (Sarma et al., 2018); however, both clefts were almost equal in crested serpent eagle.
 
In conclusion, overall results showed that crested serpent eagle and brown wood owl was of a flying group of birds; however, some differences in the morphological features in both species were due to their flying abilities and habitat.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to the Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Aizawl, Mizoram for providing all the necessary facilities to carry out research work.

REFERENCES


  1. Al-Sadi, S. (2012). Comparative morphometric study of shank bone in the tom (Meleagris gallopavo) and local cock (Gallus banikaval). Iraqi. J. Vet. Sci. 26: 57-64.

  2. Choudhary, O.P. and Kalita, P.C., Kalita, A. and Doley, P.J. (2016). Applied anatomy of the head region of the Indian wild pig (Sus scrofa) and its clinical value during regional anesthesia. J. Anim. Res. 7(2): 339-344.

  3. Choudhary, O.P. and Singh, I. (2015). Morphometrical studies on the skull of Indian blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra). Int. J. Morphol. 33(3): 868-876.

  4. Choudhary, O.P. and Singh, I. (2016). Morphological and radiographic studies on the skull of Indian blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). Int. J. Morphol. 34(2): 788-796.

  5. Choudhary, O.P., Debroy, S., Keneisenuo, Kalita, P.C., Doley, P.J., Kalita, A., Rajkhowa, T.K. and Arya, R.S. (2018a). Gross anatomical studies on the sternum of brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica). Ind. J. Vet. Anat. 30(2): 139-140.

  6. Choudhary, O.P., Kalita, P.C., Kalita, A. and Doley, P.J. (2016). Applied anatomy of the maxillofacial and mandibular regions of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). J. Camel Prac. Res. 23(1): 127-131.

  7. Choudhary, O.P., Kalita, P.C., Konwar, B., Doley, P.J., Kalita, G. and Kalita, A. (2019a). Morphological and applied anatomical studies on the head region of local Mizo Pig (Zovawk) of Mizoram. Int. J. Morphol. 37(1): 196-204.

  8. Choudhary, O.P., Kalita, P.C., Rajkhowa, T.K., Arya, R.S., Kalita, A. and Doley, P.J. (2019b). Gross morphological studies on the sternum of crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela). Ind. J. Anim. Res. 53(11): 1459-1461.

  9. Choudhary, O.P., Singh, I., Bharti, S.K., Khan, I.M., Sathapathy, S. and Mrigesh, M. (2015). Gross and morphometrical studies on mandible of blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra). Int. J. Morphol. 33(2): 428-432.

  10. Fitzgerald, T.C. (1969). The coturnix quail, anatomy and physiology. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

  11. Getty, R. (1975). Sisson and Grossman’s: Anatomy of the domestic animals. Vol. II, 5th edn., The Macmillan Company of India Limited, New Delhi, India. 

  12. Keneisenuo, Choudhary, O.P., Arya, R.S., Kalita, P.C., Doley, P.J., Rajkhowa, T.K. and Kalita, A. (2019a). Comparative gross morphological studies on the os coxae of crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) and brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica). J. Anim. Res. 9(3): 439-442.

  13. Keneisenuo, Choudhary, O.P., Arya, R.S., Kalita, P.C., Rajkhowa, T.K., Kalita, A., Doley and Doley, P.J. (2019b). Comparative gross anatomical studies on the humerus of crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) and brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica). Ind. J. Vet. Anat. 31(2): 95-96.

  14. Keneisenuo, Choudhary, O.P., Debroy, S., Arya, R.S., Kalita, P.C., Doley, P.J., Rajkhowa, T.K. and Kalita, A. (2019c). Comparative gross anatomical studies on the shoulder girdle of crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) and brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica). Ind. J. Anim. Res. DOI: 10.18805/    ijar.B-3819.

  15. King, A.S. and McLelland, J.S. (1975). Outlines of avian anatomy. 1st edn. Baillere Tindall, London, UK.

  16. Kumar, P. and Singh G. (2014). Gross anatomy of wing and pelvic limb bones in emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Ind. J. Vet. Anat. 26(2): 82-86. 

  17. Lakshmi,M.S., Rao T.S.C.S., Ramayy, P.J. and Ravindrareddy, Y. (2007). Gross anatomical studies on the os coxae and femur of emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Ind. J. Poultry Sci. 42(1): 61-63.

  18. McLelland, J. (1990). A color atlas of avian anatomy. Wolfe Publishing Ltd., London, UK.

  19. Nickel, R., Schummer, A. and Seiferle, E. (1977). Anatomy of the domestic birds, Chapter (Skeleton of the head), Verlag Paul Parey, Berlin and Hamburg, Germany.

  20. Rezk, H.M. (2015). Anatomical investigation on the appendicular skeleton of the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis). J. Exp. Clinical Anat. 14(1): 5-12. 

  21. Sarma, K., Sasan, J.S. and Suri, S. (2018). Gross anatomy and biometry on tibiotarsus, fibula and tarsometatarsus of Indian eagle owl (Bubo bengalensis). Explor. Anim. Med. Res. 8(1): 123-127.

  22. Snedecor, G.W. and Cochran, W.G. (1994). Statistical methods. 8th edn. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

  23. Sreeranjini, A.R., Ashok, N., Indu, V.R., Lucy, K.M., Maya, S. and Syam, K.V. (2013). Morphological studies on the femur, tibiotarsus and fibula of peahen (Pavo cristatus). Tamilnadu J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 9(4): 248-252. 

  24. Tahon, R.R., Ragab, S.A., Hamid, M.A.A. and Rezk, H.M. (2013). Some anatomical studies on the skeleton of chickens. Ph.D. Thesis. Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. 

  25. Tully, T.N., Lawton, M.P.C. and Dorrestein, G.M. (2000). Avian medicine. 1st edn, Oxford, Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, UK.

  26. Venkatesan, S., Paramasivan, S., Kannan, T.A., Basha, S.H. and Ramesh, G. (2006). A comparative anatomical study of the femur of domestic fowl, guinea fowl, turkey and ostrich. Ind. J. Anim. Sci. 76(11): 925-926.
Reviewed By

Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    Editorial Board

    View all (0)