Journal article

Publication year: 1998

Pages: 193-196

Journal: Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia

Volume number: 27

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0340-2096

Open access status: Bronze

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0264.1998.tb00179.x

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
The occurrence of an os interparietale was studied in two transparent preparations of fetal red deer (Cervus elaphus) heads and in 14 dried skulls of fetal to early postnatal individuals from four Cervus species (C. elaphus, C. nippon, C. duvauceli and C. eldi). In 14 of the 16 specimens, an interparietal was present as either a paired or single bone. In only a neonate red deer and a 5-week-old sika deer this skull element was missing. We therefore conclude that an os interparietale, developing from paired centres of ossification, is normally present in Cervus species. This clearly distinguishes them from the fallow deer, where an interparietal is missing (Kierdorf and Kierdorf, 1992b). Our findings thus support the view that the fallow deer should be considered a distinct genus Dama instead of being included within Cervus.

Harvard Citation style: Kierdorf, U. and Kierdorf, H. (1998) Studies on the parietal region of the cervid skull III. On the occurrence of an interparietal in Cervus, Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia, 27(3), pp. 193-196. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0264.1998.tb00179.x

APA Citation style: Kierdorf, U., & Kierdorf, H. (1998). Studies on the parietal region of the cervid skull III. On the occurrence of an interparietal in Cervus. Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia. 27(3), 193-196. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0264.1998.tb00179.x