Anatomical and Radiographical Studies of the Skull in Adult European Badger (Meles meles)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Babak Rasouli ¹
• Mohammadali Adibi ²
• Arad Jahankhani ³
• Omid Zehtabvar ⁴

¹ Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.

² Department of environment of Semnan province, Semnan, Iran.

³ DVM student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.

⁴ Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/ijvst.2025.88540.1390

Abstract

The European badger (Meles meles) is a powerful animal native to Europe and parts of West Asia. The skull imparts the phylogenetic morphology to the skulls of animal species and functions as a safeguard for vital organs, including the brain and eyes. The aim of our study was to improve the current data by providing a comprehensive investigation of the morphology and dimensions of the cranium and mandible of badgers. This information enhances comprehension of radiological and surgical attributes. We conducted anatomical studies and measured the morphometric features. We received the skulls from naturally occurring carcasses. We employed unpaired t-test for statistical analysis. This study demonstrated that the anatomical features of the skull exhibit no discernible differences between badgers and other wild carnivores, such as tiger and wolf. The presence of a twin jugular foramen in the skull of badgers distinguishes them as a distinct characteristic not found in any other carnivorous animals. Moreover, radiographical studies showed two distinct sinuses and a cavity in the skull of badger which is different from dogs. Males and females differ significantly in some morphometric traits, which is entirely consistent with the behavioral and nutritional traits of the animal. Modern imaging techniques, such as CT scans, are necessary for more thorough studies on the skulls of wild carnivores. 

Keywords

• European badger
• Skull
• Morphology
• Morphometry
• Radiography

Main Subjects

• Anatomy

---

References

1.    Martonos C, Gudea A, Lațiu C, Blagojevic M, Stan F. Morphological and morphometrical aspects of the auditory ossicles in the European badger (Meles Meles). Veterinary Sciences. 2022;9(9):483. Doi: 10.3390/vetsci9090483
2.    Yoshimura K, Shindo J, Kageyama I. Light and scanning electron microscopic study on the tongue and lingual papillae of the Japanese badgers, Meles meles anakuma. Okajimas folia anatomica Japonica. 2009;85(4):119-27. Doi: 10.2535/ofaj.85.119
3.    Singh B. Dyce, Sack, and Wensing's textbook of veterinary anatomy: Saunders St. Louis, Missouri; 2018. 4th edn:177–96. 
4.    GÜRBÜZ İ, Aytek AI, Demiraslan Y, Vedat O, ÖZGEL Ö. Geometric morphometric analysis of cranium of wolf (Canis lupus) and German shepherd dog (Canis lupus familiaris). Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi. 2020;26(4). Doi: 10.9775/kvfd.2019.23841
5.    Rasouli B, Yousefi MH. Skull, mandible and hyoid apparatus in the Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii): A comprehensive anatomical study. Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia. 2023. Doi: 10.1111/ahe.12895
6.    Lee S, Mill P. Cranial variation in British mustelids. Journal of Morphology. 2004;260(1):57-64. Doi: 10.1002/jmor.10212
7.    Georgescu B, Predoi G, Belu C, Purdoiu L, Ghimpețeanu M, Chereji M, et al. Morphometric biodiversity of the skull in jaguar (Panthera onca). Case study. 2014.
8.    König H, Liebich H. Veterinary anatomy of domestic mammals: textbook and colour atlas. 2014. 3th edn:120–196.
9.    Mihaylov R, Dimitrov R, Krastev S, STAMATOVAYOVCHEVA K. Morphology and anomaly of the scull of zoo Lynx lynx (Carnivora: Felidae): ecological aspects for further reintroduction. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science. 2018; 24(1): 270 -4.
10.    Pandey Y, Vaish R, Pandey A, PODHADE D. Gross morphometrical studies on cranial bones in tiger. Bioscan. 2017;12:811-4. Doi: 10.1111/ahe.12269.
11.    Yousefi MH. Anatomical study of the Iranian brown bear’s skull (Ursus arctos): A case report. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine. 2016;10(3):237-44. Doi: 10.22059/ IJVM.2016.58686.
12.    Monfared AL. Anatomy of the Persian cat’s skull and its clinical value during regional anesthesia. Global Veterinaria. 2013;10(5):551-5. Doi: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2013.10.5.72101.
13.    Atalar Ö, Üstündag Y, Yaman M, Özdemir D. Comparative anatomy of the neurocranium in some wild carnivora. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances. 2009;8(8):1542-4.
14.    Mohamed R. Anatomical and radiographic study on the skull and mandible of the African lion (Panthera leo). Journal of Morphological Sciences. 2019;36(3):174-81. Doi: 10.3390/vetsc i5020044.
15.    Wysocki J. Morphology of the temporal canal and postglenoid foramen with reference to the size of the jugular foramen in man and selected species of animals. Folia Morphologica. 2002;61(4):199-208.
16.    de Souza P, de Moraes FM, de Carvalho NdC, Canelo EA, Thiesen R, Santos ALQ. Mandibular morphometry applied to anesthetic blockage in the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 2016;47(1):91-7. Doi: 10.1638/2015-0092.1.
17.    Rezić A, Bošković I, Lubinu P, Piria M, Florijančić T, Scandura M, et al. Dimorphism in the skull form of golden jackals (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) in the Western Balkans: a geometric morphometric approach. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 2017;49(3).Doi:10.17582/journ al.pjz/2017.49.3.989.997
18.    He T, Friede H, Kiliaridis S. Macroscopic and roentgenographic anatomy of the skull of the ferret (Mustela putorius furo). Lab Anim. 2002;36(1):86-96. Doi: 10.1258/0023677021 911795
19.    Suzuki S, Abe M, Motokawa M. Integrative study on static skull variation in the J apanese weasel (Carnivora: Mustelidae). Journal of Zoology. 2012;288(1):57-65. Doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00924.x
20.    Taraska M, Sulik M, Lasota B. Comparison of the craniometric parameters of wild and farm American mink (Mustela vison). Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2016;75(1):251-6. Doi: 10.5603/FM.a2015.0092.
21.    Mahdy MA, Zayed M. Computed tomography and cross‐sectional anatomy of the head in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia. 2020;49(6):708-17.