A new chondrodystrophy mutation in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

A second form of hereditary chondrodystrophy (ch-2) has been discovered in a selected line of Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica. This form of chondrodystrophy is autosomal and recessive, characterized by an overall shortening and bending of the long bones of the wings and legs, slight dwarfing of the trunk, bulging of the eyes, flattening of the head, and a parrot beak. The shortened long bones vary in regard to the amount of bending from nearly straight to bends of up to 90 degrees in the midshaft region. In severe cases, the bend is evident as a protuberance of the skin. Affected embryos usually survive the 18-day incubation period. Several have hatched, but most survived no longer than 4 days after hatching. Only one female has survived long enough to lay eggs. Testcrosses indicated that this mutation is not allelic to micromelia.