Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery, cilt.21, sa.1, ss.43-50, 2026 (Scopus)
This study investigates the radiographic anatomy of the forelimb and hindlimb skeletons in the critically endangered Kaiser’s Mountain newt (Neurergus kaiseri), an endemic Iranian salamander. Using non-invasive digital mammography (32 kVp, 80 mAs), we analyzed the osteology of 10 adult specimens (5 males, 5 females) to characterize appendicular skeletal features. The scapulocoracoid was a single bony unit with a prominent glenoid cavity and supracoracoid foramen. The humerus exhibited flattened cranial and caudal crests, while the radius and ulna remained separate, with distinct proximal/distal width patterns. The carpus comprised seven bones (ulnare, radiale, prepollicis, centrale, distal carpals 3–4, and basale commune), and the manus displayed four digits with a phalangeal formula of 2-3-2-2. The pelvic girdle fused into an ilium-ischiopubic plate, lacking an obturator foramen. The femur was longer than the humerus, featuring a medially oriented head and a hook-shaped trochanter. The tibia and fibula were equal in length but shorter than the femur. The pes had five digits (phalangeal formula: 2-2-3-3-2) and seven tarsal bones, including a fused basale commune (distal tarsals 4–5). Comparative analysis revealed key differences from related species (Hynobius setouchi, Batrachuperus londongensis), such as carpal/tarsal bone counts and fusion patterns. These findings provide foundational data for ecological, evolutionary, and conservation studies, highlighting mammography as a viable, non-invasive tool for skeletal research in delicate amphibians.