Fabio Pereira Machado’s research while affiliated with Federal University of Pelotas and other places

At South Brazil, where the Pampa biome is predominant, dead nine-banded armadillo is frequentely found injuried or even dead at margins of roads and highways what has contributed to the increasing of number of specimens in admission to wildlife rehabilitation centers. Osteological studies are limited and normal skeleton morphology informations is need to radiographic recognition in wildlife medicine. The objective of this work was to present the morphology of the bones from the pelvic limbs of Dasypus novemcinctus, pointing out their topographical characterization and how their can be seen in radiographic images. Pelvic limbs of twelve dead nine-banded armadillo specimens from different age categories were used. The carcass were underwent radiological examinations using digital processing and practical plans for the clinical routine of small animals. From each radiographed individual osteological preparation was carrying out using conventional anatomical techniques. Photographic records of bones were made considering views of anatomical importance to the study. All bone components of the pelvic limb showed characteristics favorable to the species' lifestyle and habits reforcing evolutive morphoplasticity. Some bone accidents were unable to be clearly recorded through radiographic images because peculiar anatomical characteristics and limited mobility in some joints which not allowed executing positioning as done in the dog or cat. Presence of a sinsacre, a great third trochanter, a well structured leg with tibia and fibula similar in size and thickness and the complex sesamoid elements on feet suggests the specialization in shifting body weight to the pelvic limb while using the forelimbs to dig. The study provided a radiographic protocol includyind suitable positionings from practical execution by wildlife veterinarians that work in rehabilitation centers.

Several aspects of the bone morphology of armadillos have been investigated and used as taxonomic bases. The nined-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is the species of the genus that has the largest geographical distribution. Although is the most well-known armadillo species in its biology, skeletal studies are scarce and its original description is not detailed to permit accurate taxonomic revision including specimens from Southern end of Brazil. The objective of the present work was to provide a complete description of the synchranium of specimens from Pampa biome including areas located at south of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The bony elements were described in detail on the basis of thirty-two specimens prepared specifically for this study. In general, the shape of bones remained morphologically similar between adults of both sexes. The studied specimens differed morphologically from those of previous studies and from more northern regions. Differences were verified in the lateral border of the palatine bone, shape of the pterygoids bones,shape of the coanas, outline of foramen Magnum and of Tentorial process. The results obtained generated evidences that may contribute to future morphological and taxonomical studies including animals from Southern Brazil.

In Brazil, injured nine-banded armadillos are frequently taken to wildlife rehabilitation centers due to direct or indirect anthropic interactions, however, database about osseous structures useful to radiographic interpretation are limited. This work provides bones description from thoracic limb of Dasypus novemcinctus as well as references to radiographic interpretation and the best positioning to perform the radiographies. Twelve deceased specimens seized by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) were used to check osteology and radiographic anatomy. Radiographic images were taken in practical routine plans of small animals and were followed by limbs dissection and bones preparations. The bone structure of the thoracic limb was similar to those of other species of armadillos. The scapula presented a prominent caudal angle, as well as a thick acromion with a wide hamate process; the humerus is short, spiraled with a prominent deltoid tuberosity and a wide lateral epicondylar crest; the radius and ulna did not present any fusion between then, allowing a wide rotation movement of the forearm. In general, the bone components of the hand maintained a short and robust shape, digits with developed distal phalange followed by long claws. Several sesamoid bones were found in the metacarpal and interphalangical joints. Clear visualization of bone characteristics was possible using proposed positioning to take the radiographies.

Testudines generally presents a considerable wealth of osteological elements of the skull that makes crucial the detailed knowledge of these bone structures, mainly in solving problems of classification and determination of species. Emydidae is an important group of chelonians, but the cranial anatomy knowledge is limited, mainly of the species of the genus Trachemys. The aim of the present study is to describe the osteology (in particular, the intraspecific variations) of the skull and mandible of T. dorbigni. 82 specimens of T. dorbigni from the Herpetological Collection of the Laboratory of Vertebrate Zoology/Institute of Biology/Universidade Federal de Pelotas were used in this study. The results indicated a set of characteristics not previously described for the specie’s skull, as well as several characteristics intraspecifically variable. Intraspecific variation was found in the pattern of jugal, frontal, prefrontal, vomer, quadratojugal and exoccipital bones, further the cases of absence and diversification in the position of the foramina praepalatinum and foramen nervi hypoglossi, and an observation of foramens that were not described in literature. Therefore, it is possible to state that there is considerable intraspecific variation in the Trachemys dorbigni’s skull, although it maintains general characteristics similar to other Emydidae’s species.

Studies related to the skull osteology of snakes of the tribe Elapomorphini are scarce. Osteological descriptions may provide specific diagnostic characters, helping in a more efficient identification of species belonging to the group and also contributing to palaeoherpetology studies. The objective of this work was to describe the syncranial osteology of Phalotris lemniscatus trilineatus (Boulenger, 1889) from Southern Brazil. The bone structure of the articulated syncranium was described considering the dorsal, lateral and palatal norms. The morphology of P. l. trilineatus’ skulls observed in the present study agreed largely with the information reported by previous works. However, these studies did not mention the presence of a crest of the caudal border in the quadrate bone, which until now was cited only in P. nasutus in the tribe. The description of P. l. trilineatus syncranium corroborated the taxonomical separation of most of the taxa included in the Elapomorphini Tribe, occurring a greater divergence between Phalotris and Coronelaps in the comparative analysis of osteological characters. It is hoped that the anatomic description of the skull bones may contribute to the resolution of the taxonomic problems occurring in the lemniscatus group, as well as to help future research related to the genus Phalotris and the tribe Elapomorphini.