Gross morphological studies on the skull of adult Bakarwali goat and local sheep of Jammu region - a comparative study

Abstract

Comparative gross anatomical study was made on adult skulls of Bakarwali goat (6) and local sheep of Jammu region (6) for their gross anatomical comparison. The frontal eminence was well developed in goat, whereas it was slightly evaginated in sheep. The frontal suture was serrated, the fronto nasal suture was 'V' shaped, the external occipital protuberance was sharp and pointed and, the intercondyloid cleft formed a deep 'U' shaped notch in Bakarwali goat. In the maxilla just cranial to the infraorbital foranien, a deep fossa was recorded only in goat whereas, in sheep a shallow lacrimal fossa was recorded just behind the orbito-facial crest. The external surface of the tympanic bullae was smooth and glistening in goat. However, in sheep it was rough with the presence of a low ridge. The body of the basisphenoid bone formed a sharp ridge in sheep in comparison to smooth in goat. The palatine process of maxillary area was elongated in sheep as compared to that in goat. However, the width between 2 alveolar borders was conmaratively more in goat. The cephalic index of Bakarwali goat was more as compared to that of sheep.