Macroscopic description of the bones of the forelimb of Pudu pudu (Molina 1782)

The present study describes the anatomical details of the bones of the thoracic limb from Pudu pudu (Molina 1782). The results were similar to findings discovered in Capreolus capreolus, Dama dama, and Ovis aries, while there were hardly any similarities to findings in Capra hircus.     

Distribution and habitat features of southern pudu (Pudu puda Molina, 1782) in Argentina

Pudu puda is a very small deer that inhabits humid areas of the temperate forests in Chile and Argentina and is one of the less known South American deer. We provide an updated distribution of Pudu puda in Argentina, with georeferenced sighting localities, and some qualitative features of its habitat such as forest type and understory. We also analyse the effects of human settlements, cattle and invasive mammals (Cervus elaphus and Sus scrofa) on the distribution of the southern pudu. We obtained information on Pudu puda occurrence from unpublished sources including protected areas provided by National Parks Administration and interviews of local residents. In the north sector of Nahuel Huapi National Park, where high density of records was found, we obtained information about some qualitative habitat features, proximity of Pudu puda sighting localities to human settlements, presence of invasive mammals and cattle. We recorded a total of 54 new localities for Pudu puda in Argentina, the northernmost record at S 39°23′, W 71°17′ and the southernmost at S 42°58′, W 72°00′. We recorded low frequency of human settlements, Sus scrofa and Cervus elaphus in Pudu puda sighting localities. We did not detect exclusion of Pudu puda from areas with cattle occurrence. Sighting localities of southern pudu were made mostly in monotypic mature Nothofagus dombeyi forest, with dense understory dominated by Chusquea coleu.     

On the banding patterns of the chromosomes of the Pudu pudu (PUDU)

The cytogenetic study of the Pudu Pudu (Pudu) shows a diploid number of 70 chromosomes (2n = 70). We present here for the first time data on their banding pattern which reveal peculiars C-bands and allow precise identification of the chromosomal set. Homozygous expression of an autosomal fragile sites was found in the largest acrocentric pair.     

The adhesive protein of Choromytilus chorus (Molina, 1782) and Aulacomya ater (Molina, 1782): a proline-rich and a glycine-rich polyphenolic protein

The adhesive polyphenolic proteins from Aulacomya ater and Choromytilus chorus with apparent molecular masses of 135000 and 105000, respectively, were digested with trypsin and the peptides produced resolved by reversed phase liquid chromatography. About 5 and 12 major peptides were obtained from the protein of A. ater and C. chorus, respectively. The major peptides were purified by reverse-phase chromatography and the amino acid sequence indicates that both polyphenolic proteins consisted of repeated sequence motifs in their primary structure. The major peptides of A. ater contain seven amino acids corresponding to the consensus sequence AGYGGXK, whereas the tyrosine was always found as 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa), the X residue in position 6 was either valine, leucine or isoleucine, and the carboxy terminal was either lysine or hydroxylysine. On the other hand, the major peptides of C. chorus ranged in size from 6 to 21 amino acids and the majority correspond to the consensus sequence AKPSKYPTGYKPPVK. Both proteins differ markedly in the sequence of their tryptic peptides, but they share the common characteristics of other adhesive proteins in having a tandem sequence repeat in their primary structure.     

Effect of antiandrogen cyproterone acetate on the development of the antler cycle in Southern pudu (Pudu puda)

The antler cycle of pudu is similar to other cervids, but unlike most boreal deer, male Southern pudu (Pudu puda) exhibits two seasonal peaks of LH and testosterone. In that respect, pudu is similar to roe deer. Whereas the antler cycle in some deer species, such as roe deer or white-tailed deer, is very sensitive to variation of testosterone, in other cervids, such as fallow deer or reindeer, a blockade of androgens with cyproterone acetate (CA) has little or no effect on the timing of the antler casting. In order to test the sensitivity of pudu antlers to variations of androgens, CA (administered 2x weekly at 50 mg/buck) was injected intramuscularly for 3 weeks in 5 adult male pudu, starting February 19 (late summer). Four other males of similar age served as controls. The experiment was performed at the University of Concepcion, Chile, latitude 36.6 degreeS. Blood samples were taken once a week between January 19 and April 3. In CA-treated bucks, the antlers were cast approximately 3 weeks after the initiation of CA treatment and a new antler growth began almost immediately. The antlers reached about 5 cm in length, before ceasing to grow at the end of April, when they became mineralized and were subsequently polished. CA had no effect on the already declining levels of LH. Plasma levels of testosterone in controls increased from February 15, whereas in CA-treated bucks remained depresses until March 21. It is concluded that similarly to white-tailed deer, the antler cycle of Southern pudu is very sensitive to manipulation of androgen levels.     

First records of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from wild southern pudu, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pudu puda</Emphasis> (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Cervidae)

The presence of two species of Phthiraptera, Bovicola caprae (Gurlt, 1843) (Ischnocera: Bovicoliidae) and Solenopotes binipilosus (Fahrenholz, 1916) (Anoplura: Linognathidae), is reported for the first time from Pudu puda (Molina, 1782).     

Testing the biomechanical optimality of the wall thickness of limb bones in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

The optimum for the ratio K of the internal to external diameter of a marrow-filled tubular bone with minimum mass designed to withstand a given type of strength (yield/fatigue, stiffness, fracture or impact) depends on Q = rhom/rhob only, where rhom and rhob are the densities of marrow and bone. With computer-assisted evaluation of radiographs of 62 femurs in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) we measured the values of K. The mean and standard deviation of K are 0.68 and 0.036, and K changes in the rather wide range from 0.59 to 0.74. Accepting the assumption of earlier authors that Q = 0.50 or 0.44, our data would support the hypothesis that the fox femurs are optimized to withstand yield, fatigue or stiffness strengths. However, since the Q-values are unknown, the possibility cannot be excluded that any studied fox bone with an appropriately selected Q-value is optimized for any strength type. Assuming Q = 0.50 or 0.44, the relative mass increments mu of the investigated fox bones are smaller than 5% under all four mechanical conditions. The evolutionary relevance of such tiny mu-values is questionable.     

Mechanical properties of river otter limb bones

The determination of the bone strengths of wild animals has many potential advantages, which include the ability to estimate age of animals; monitor strengths of bones as influenced by contaminants, particularly lead; provide appropriate data for design of capture, handling, and holding equipment to minimize the possibility for bone fracture in captured animals; and measure effects of nutrition on bone strength. The objectives of of this study were to provide data on the mechanical properties of limb bones of river otters and to consider effects of age and sex on the properties. Three-point bending and shear tests were conducted on the radius, ulna, tibia, and fibula. The three-point bending tests were first conducted on the bones loaded within their elastic limit. These tests were used to evaluate the modulii of elasticity of the bones. The data on the modulii indicated that age and sex did not have significant effects on the values. The four different bones tested had approximately the same modulus of elasticity, with an average value of 14. 1 gigapascal (GPa). The shear tests were conducted on the limb bones to failure in order to determine the maximum breaking force and strength of the bones. The shear force of the radius tended to increase with age and there was a significant (P < .001) age effect. The shear force of the ulna for males was significantly (P < .002) higher than that of the females. A similar trend was observed for the fibula (P < .03). The shear strength of the radius increased with age and there was a significant (P < .005) age effect. There was also a significant (P < .001) effect of sex on shear strength of the radius; values for females were higher. There were no significant effects of sex or age found on shear strengths of the ulnae, tibia, and fibulae.     

Allometry of the limb long bones of insectivores and rodents

In an attempt to investigate the relationships between allometry and locomotory adaptations, we studied the long limb bones of 45 species of insectivores and rodents. Animals ranged from a few grams to about 50 kilograms. Diameter and length of the bones and body mass (when known) were recorded. Regressions of diameter to length, diameter to body mass, and length to body mass were calculated by the least-squares and Model II, or major axis, methods. The results obtained do not agree with the predictions of either the theory of geometric similarity or the theory of elastic similarity. The discrepancies could be due to the fact that animals studied exhibit various modes of locomotion. Moreover, the allometric relationships of the different locomotor patterns are better reflected in insectivores and rodents than in other groups of mammals. The use of a single regression analysis seems to be inadequate when the sample includes a large range of body sizes.