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Veterinary sciences2023; 10(4); 255; doi: 10.3390/vetsci10040255

Basicranial Modular Organization. A Study in the Araucanian Horse of Colombia.

Abstract: The skull is divided into neurocranium and splanchnocranium, and its variation allows ecomorphological studies to learn about possible evolutionary and adaptive characteristics. The basicranial organization of the neurocranium and splanchnocranium modules was studied in a sample of 31 skulls from adult Araucanian horses by means of 2D geometric morphometric techniques. The neurocranium and splanchnocranium modules on the ventral aspect were analyzed separately using a set of 31 landmarks. The RV coefficient (the multivariate analog of a correlation) was estimated to analyze the independence of these two parts, as well as their morphological integration, using a two-block analysis of least squares. The study results confirm the modular development of the neurocranium and the splanchnocranium, the former being more stable than the latter as well as low morphological integration between the two. The development between both parties is structured in a modular way but allows relative independence. Now it would be interesting for future studies to add muscles (those that connect the cranial parts, but also the cervical), the hyoid apparatus, and the ossicles of the internal ear and the jaw and analyze if they behave as integrated modules between them. Since this research has been conducted at the subspecific breed level, it could be plausible that in other breeds, this integrative development was different.
Publication Date: 2023-03-28 PubMed ID: 37104410PubMed Central: PMC10141692DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10040255Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The article discusses a study focused on the skull structure of Araucanian horses from Colombia, specifically looking at how the two modules of the skull, the neurocranium and splanchnocranium, are organized and interrelate.

Understanding the Study

  • The research is primarily concerned with ecomorphological studies that derive evolutionary and adaptive characteristics from variations in the skull. In this context, the study focuses on the Araucanian horse’s skull structure.
  • The skull is made up of two primary sections – the neurocranium and the splanchnocranium. The neurocranium houses the brain, while the splanchnocranium forms the facial skeleton.

Methodology

  • This study used 2D geometric morphometric techniques to analyze the skull structure of 31 adult Araucanian horses. Specifically, it looked at the neurocranium and splanchnocranium modules on the ventral (bottom) aspect of the skull.
  • The study relied on a set of 31 landmarks, specific points on each skull, to provide a basis for measurement and comparison.
  • The RV coefficient was calculated to examine the degree of correlation between the two modules. A two-block analysis of least squares, a statistical method, was used to understand the morphological integration of the two sections of the skull.

Findings

  • The results of the study confirmed that the neurocranium and splanchnocranium develop modularly, meaning each section develops independently of the other.
  • The neurocranium was found to be more stable than the splanchnocranium. This could imply that the neurocranium has a fixed function, while the splanchnocranium, being less stable, is more adaptable and may change depending on environmental factors or the lifestyle of the horse.
  • Despite their modular development, there was discovered to be low morphological integration between the two sections of the skull. This indicates that the two parts have relative independence in their structure and function.

Future Implications

  • The authors suggest future studies could expand on their research by including other elements, such as the muscles that connect the parts of the skull, the hyoid apparatus, the ossicles of the ear, and the jaw, to see if these behave as integrated modules.
  • Also, they mention the possibility of this integration being different in skulls of other horse breeds. This argument provides scope for further research in ecomorphological studies across breed variations.

Cite This Article

APA
Salamanca-Carreño A, Parés-Casanova PM, Crosby-Granados RA, Vélez-Terranova M, Bentez-Molano J. (2023). Basicranial Modular Organization. A Study in the Araucanian Horse of Colombia. Vet Sci, 10(4), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10040255

Publication

ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
PII: 255

Researcher Affiliations

Salamanca-Carreño, Arcesio
  • Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Villavicencio 500001, Colombia.
Parés-Casanova, Pere M
  • Institució Catalana d'Història Natural, 08001 Barcelona, Spain.
Crosby-Granados, René Alejandro
  • Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Villavicencio 500001, Colombia.
Vélez-Terranova, Mauricio
  • Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Palmira 763531, Colombia.
Bentez-Molano, Jannet
  • Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Villavicencio 500001, Colombia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest that may have influenced this research.

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