Radiographic analysis of the growth rate of long bones in bustards

A serial radiographic study was conducted on seven houbara bustard (Chlamyd otis undulata macqueenii), 10 rufous-crested bustard (Eupodotis ruficrista) , four white-bellied bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) and eight kori bustar d (Ardeotis kori) chicks to determine the growth rate of long bones and to establish radiographic standards for assessing skeletal maturity. The growt h rates of the tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus in the bustard species inves tigated were similar to those in domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) and some long-legged avian species. Maturation of long bones occurred earlier in ho ubara bustards compared with rufous-crested, white-bellied and kori bustard s. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.