Anatomical Description of the Bony Segments that Make Up the Skull of the Puma Concolor Species
Manuel Saldivia
*
Veterinary Anatomy Unit, Faculty of Natural Resources, Santo Tomás University, Puerto Montt Headquarters, Chile.
Leandro Castro
Veterinary Anatomy Unit, Faculty of Natural Resources, Santo Tomás University, Puerto Montt Headquarters, Chile.
Katherine Zapata
Veterinary Anatomy Unit, Faculty of Natural Resources, Santo Tomás University, Puerto Montt Headquarters, Chile.
P. Cardenas
Veterinary Anatomy Unit, Faculty of Natural Resources, Santo Tomás University, Puerto Montt Headquarters, Chile.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Puma concolor is one of the largest carnivores present in Chile, although its size varies according to the geographical area in which it is found. It is increasingly common to find them outside their habitat and more in our environment. Its ecology, reproduction and nutritional aspects are known, but very little about its anatomy, which creates a challenge in the veterinary morphological area that needs strengthening.
The present study consisted of an anatomical description of the skull of five adult specimens of Puma concolor (2 female and 3 male) in the veterinary anatomy laboratory of the Santo Tomás University, of the Puerto Montt headquarters and the Austral University of Valdivia headquarters. , which allowed a detailed study on the bone conformation of each structure present in the skull of these specimens. This allowed us to achieve results of morphological interests and deepening in the anatomy of this species.
Keywords: Anatomy, skull, description, splanchnocranium, neurocranium, puma