Morphological and Osteometric Analysis of the Skull in Abaza goats (Capra aegagrus)

Abstract

This study presents osteological measurements and morphological descriptions of the Abaza goat skull. In total, 18 osteometric parameters of 10 Abaza goat skulls were measured. As a result, the mean skull length was determined as 20.82±1.4 cm, cranial length as 11.67±0.7 cm, facial length as 11.65±1.5 cm, skull index as 51.01±1.8 cm, cranial index as 50.5±7.5 cm, facial index as 71.0±8.1 cm and foramen magnum index as 106.7±13.7 cm respectively. In four skulls major intra-corneal protuberance was found on frontal bone, while in others (six skull) a deep fossa was observed. Prominent facial tuberosity was located dorsal to the 3rd-4th cheek tooth. İnfraorbital foramen in four skulls was single one it her side which was dorsally located to the junction of the first and second upper premolar tooth, in the others had partition. Paracondylar process down wards one it her side and its not same level of the occipital condyle. As a result, morphological and osteometric data were obtained on the skull of Abaza goats. The data obtained were compared with other studies in the literature.