Principle features of the cranial osteology of Milvago chimango (Vieillot, 1816) and Milvago chimachima (Vieillot, 1816) (Aves: Falconidae)

• Main Authors: Anderson Guzzi, Antonia Marques dos Santos, Juliana Dias dos Santos, Reginaldo José Donatelli, Guilherme José Bolzani de Campos Ferreira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2015-03-01
• Series: Biotemas
• Subjects: Anatomia; Crânio; Morfologia
• Online Access: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/35770

Knowledge of details of the cranial osteology of Milvago chimango and M. chimachima helps to ensure the monophyly of genus when compared to other birds and falcons. We conducted a study using skulls of three Milvago chimango and three Milvago chimachima specimens from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History's Division of Birds. The cranial descriptions were comparative and illustrated by photos from the dorsal, ventral, and lateral flow perspectives. The studied species were then compared with falcons and other birds. Milvago chimango possesses several unique characters, including: the ratio of the distance from the distal portion of the lacrimal bone to the orbital arc, and from the orbital arc to the buccal arc is (1/5); absence of transpalate processes; lack of dorsal process on the pterygoid bone; more robust skull; paraoccipital bone more developed laterally; lacrimal bone smaller and more rostral; palatine bone approximately twice as wide; ethmoide bone more robust and long. In M. chimachima, the distinguishing features are: presence of projections at the caudal end of the palatine bone; developed dorsal process of the pterygoid bone; temporal fossa more tapered dorsoventrally; transverse nuchal crest outlined and visible; nostril closer to the frontonasal suture. Cranial osteology successfully provided diagnostic characters of each species and gender compared to other birds and falcons. to the installation of large enterprises or environmental protection areas. alic'>seedlings.