Arm and forearm bones of the adult blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus): A morphological and morphometrical study

There is scanty information on the morphology and morphometry of the arm and forearm bones (humerus, radius, ulna) of the adult blue bull; therefore, the present study was designed to provide details on the morphology and morphometry of the arm and forearm bones of adult blue bull.

The present study was conducted on the arm and forearm bones of six adult blue bull of either sex (n=6, male and n=6, female). The bone specimens were collected from Jodhpur zoo after taking official permission from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Government of Rajasthan. The collected bones were processed as per the standard hot water maceration technique. The macerated bones were soaked in 3% hydrogen peroxide followed by five days of sun-drying.

The humerus and radius was the long bones, whereas the ulna was aborted long bone. The humerus was a long, less twisted and strong bone with two extremities and four surfaces. The radius was fused to the ulna in the entire length, except for two interosseous spaces, namely, proximal interosseous spaces and distal interosseous spaces. The present study revealed that all the obtained parameters of arm and forearm bones (humerus, radius, ulna) showed a significant statistical difference (p<0.05*) between the males and females of adult blue bull. It can be concluded that the bones of the arm and forearm of the adult blue bull resembled that of small and large ruminants; however, they differed from other domestic and wild animals.