A Post-hatch Developmental Study of Conchae in Kuttanad Ducks (Anasplatyrhynchos domesticus)

Abstract

A developmental study of conchae in Kuttanad ducks was carried out by using 78 female birds from day-old to 24 weeks of age. The material was collected from six birds in each group at fortnightly intervals. Each half of the nasal cavity revealed the presence of rostral, middle and caudal conchae. The middle nasal concha was larger and narrower than other two conchae and was slightly dorsal to the rostral concha. The basic histological structure of the nasal conchae in all age groups was the same except the caudal concha which possessed olfactory epithelium like an elongated paint brush and bore olfactory hairs at the apical border.