RADIOGRAPHIC MONITORING OF THE OSSIFICATION OF LONG BONES IN KORI (ARDEOTIS-KORI) AND WHITE-BELLIED (EUPODOTIS-SENEGALENSIS) BUSTARDS

A serial radiographic study was conducted on eight kori bustard (Ardeo tis kori) and four white-bellied bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) chic ks to determine the pattern of long bone development and to establish radiographic standards for assessing skeletal maturity. The ossificati on pattern, appearance of secondary ossification centres, and epiphyse al fusion of the long bones in kori and white-bellied bustards were si milar to those in houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), rufous-crested bustards (Eupodotis ruficrista), domestic fowl (Gallus gallus), house wrens (Troglodytes aedon aedon), racing pigeons (Columb a livia), and barn owls (Tyto alba). Secondary ossification centres we re present at the proximal and distal tibiotarsus, proximal tarsometat arsus and proximal metacarpal III. The ossification of long bones occu rred earlier in female kori bustards compared with males.