Gross osteomorphometrical study of ossa coxarum of the leopard ( Panthera pardus ) 2

Aim: The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a widespread species in India. It is protected by the national law as well as by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, listed in Appendix I). However, illegal trade of leopard's bones continues to threaten its survival in the wild. Literature regarding the ossa coxarum of leopards is very rare. Hence, the present study on gross osteomorphometrical study of the ossa coxarum of 4 adult leopards was performed. Materials and Methods: Gross morphological and morphometric study was carried out on the ossa coxarum of 4 adult leopards. Bones under study were the part of specimen collection of Centre for Wildlife Forensic and Health and also from the protected areas like Kanha tiger Reserve and Van Vihar National Park. Results: consists of two os-coxae bones i.e. left and right. Each os-coxae consists of three large flat bones viz. ilium, ischium, and pubis. In the leopard, the conjugate diameter of pelvis was 7.10 ± 0.10 cm and transverse diameter was 5.27± 0.04 cm. The length of cranial border, caudal border, and dorsal border was 9.10 ± 0.15 cm, 7.35 ± 0.13 cm and 5.15 ± 0.10 cm, respectively. Conclusion: The gross morphological and morphometric parameter is established. This data will be useful to compare anatomical diversities among the same group.


Introduction
or other felid bones bring health or vigor to potential consumers, further increases the pressure on the life of The leopard is found throughout India with the leopards.Additionally, international demand for bones exception of deserts and the Sundarban mangroves.It continues to encourage poaching and illegal trade, has a wide altitudinal range and occurs all along the threatening the survival of the species.Himalayas with the exception of high-altitude deserts The scientific information on bones of leopard is [1,2].It is the most common and widely distributed meager due to which the identification of seized bones species among large carnivores in India [3].The becomes extremely difficult.Hence, the present study Leopard is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on was carried out to illuminate the osteomorphometrical International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild (Gross morphological and morphometric study) features of Fauna and Flora (CITES), which prohibits the ossa-coxarum of the leopard.international commercial trade in the species (and its body parts or derivatives) between all CITES Parties.

Materials and Methods
India has been a Party to CITES since 1976.Within Gross morphological and morphometric study India, the trade of live or dead leopard or its body parts was carried out on ossa coxarum of 4 adult leopards and and derivatives has been prohibited since the different morphological features and measurements implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) were recorded.Bones under study were the part of in 1972.
specimen collection of Centre for Wildlife Forensic Bones of leopard are sometimes prescribed as and Health and also from the protected areas like substitutes for Tiger body parts [4,5,6].The persistent Kanha tiger Reserve and Van Vihar National Park.belief in traditions, medicinal or folk based, that leopard The ilium was measured from the most cranial point on the iliac crest to the midpoint of the acetabulum.The ischium was measured from the midpoint of the acetabulum to the most caudal point on the ischial tuberosity.The two lengths were summed, and each horizontal.It formed the caudal part of the floor of the ilium and ischium length was divided by this sum to pelvic cavity.Lateral border was thick, rounded and obtain a percentage value.The ratio of the ilium length lesser ischiatic notch was not prominent.Medial border to the ischium length was also determined [7].The data was thin, rough, met with the same border of the collected were analyzed for mean and standard error as opposite bone, and formed the caudal part of the pelvic per the standard procedure [8].
symphysis.Cranial border was thin, concave, and formed the caudal boundary of the obturator foramen.

Results
Caudal border was thick, rough, met with the same Ossa coxarum of leopard comprised of os coxae border of the opposite bone, and formed the v-shaped of both sides.Each os-coxae consisted of ilium, ischial arch.The caudolateral angle (tuber ischii) was ischium and pubis.The mean weight and mean length very thick and rough (Figure -1).The pelvic surface was of the ossa coxarum bone were 147.02 ± 1.69 gm and smooth and concave.The ventral surface was rough.16.70 ± 0.60 cm.respectively (Table -1).
The caudal border of pubis was thick and formed Ilium was placed in a vertical direction parallel to the cranial boundary of the obturator foramen.The each other.The lateral or gluteal surface was deeply cranial border was thin and sharp.The medial border concave while medial surface was rough and had at its met with the opposite bone and formed the symphysis lower part, elongated curved, bean shaped facet for pubis (Figure -2).The medial angle presented a articulation with the wings of the sacrum.The mean tubercle.The pelvic surface was concave whereas length and width of the ilium was 10.20 cm ± 0.50cm ventral surface was slightly convex.The mean depth of and 3.50 ± 0.20 cm.The dorsal border was thick and the acetabulum was 1.50 ± 0.10 cm.The ratio ilium to rounded.Lateral or cranial border was thin in its upper ischium length was 0.618 to 0.389.fourth.Caudal border was also thick and presented at Discussion its middle a projection.Greater ischiatic notch was shallow and rounded (Figure -1).Ischiatic spine was The mean length of the ossa coxarum bone was not well developed.Cranial angle was thin and sharp 16.70 ± 0.60 cm.However, the same parameter of the while the caudal angle was thick and rounded.Acetabular bone was greater i.e. 24.00 cm in spotted deer [10].The angle met with the ischium and pubis at the acetabulum.lateral surface/ gluteal surface of the ilium was deeply Ischium was much smaller than the ilium and had concave.The medial surface was rough and had at its twisted appearance.The mean length and width of lower part, elongated curved, bean shaped facet.The ischium was 6.10 ± 0.40 cm and 4.50 ± 0.2.0 cm.The present observation tallied with the description of ilium acetabular part was vertical while symphysial part was of tiger [11].The mean length of the ilium was 10.20 cm ± 0.50 cm whereas in barking deer, the length of the Department and Vice-Chancellor, Nanaji Deshmukh ilium was lesser (9.25 cm) than the present observation Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, for providing [11].
the necessary facilities to carry out the research work.The pelvic surface of ischium was smooth and Necessary fund was provided by the Madhya Pradesh concave to accommodate the organs of the pelvic Forest department (India) through budget head number cavity.The ventral surface was rough for muscular C-3 state 2(i) Establishment of Centre for Studies of attachment.The mean length and width (6.10 ± 0.45 cm Wildlife Health and Disease.and 4.50 ± 0.20) of ischium in the present study were