BACKGROUND:There is no comprehension data on anatomicalindices of Nigerian goats. OBJECTIVES: To show osteometricvalues of some cranial indices in Nigerian goats. METHODS:Sixty (60) goat skulls that were found around Makurdi, Kwande,Katsina-ala and the neighbouring Adamawa state of Nigeria,were studied by investigating the 30 craniometric values.RESULTS: The measured distance from the facial tuberosity tothe infraorbital foramen was 2.33±0.29 Cm and 1.80±0.14 Cmfor females and males, respectively. In addition, the distancefrom the medial canthus to the supraorbital foramen was 27±0.31Cm for females and 2.83±0.24 Cm for males; from the lateralalveolar root to the mental foramen was 2.05±0.07 Cm forfemales and 5.10±7.28 Cm for males; and from the mandibularforamen to the ventral border of mandible was 5.90±0.14 Cm forfemales and 5.48±0.43 Cm for males. CONCLUSIONS: Thisbreed of goat might be a different phenotype of the breeds that isavailable in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Persian fallow deer (PFD), Dama dama mesopotamica, is one of the rarest members of the Cervidae family currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. OBJECTIVES: Morphological variations in the skulls of male and female PFDs were evaluated in this investigation. METHODS: In cooperation with the Department of Environment, skulls and mandibles were obtained from five male and four female animals. After the usual practices of bone cleaning, the specimens were evaluated for morphological differences. Next, 29 parameters were measured on the skulls and mandibles by a digital Vernier caliper for morphometric studies. In addition, ten, six, and nine landmark points were defined on the left lateral photos of mandibles, dorsal, and left lateral photos of skulls, respectively. The points were digitized on two-dimensional images using the TpsDig2 software. The shape differ-ences between the two genders were analyzed using discriminate function analysis in the MorphoJ software. RESULTS: The interfrontal ridge was more prominent in male PFDs than in female animals. Moreover, there were some significant differences in the measured parameters, mostly in the mandible. The geometric morphometric evaluations showed no significant differences between the two genders. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present investigation revealed some morphological differences between the skulls of male and female PFDs

\The Brown bear (Ursusarctos) is a species at risk of extinction. It is considered the largestcarnivore and lives in northern Iran. Several studies on the structure of skullhave been  accomplished in differentanimals. The aim of this study was the inscription of gross anatomicalcharacteristics of skulls of three Iranian adult male brown bears that weretransferred  to the Anatomical Departmentof the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Semnan University. After processing,that included cleaning, degreasing and bleaching, skulls were studied from thedorsal or frontal, ventral, lateral, rostral, caudal and medial views. Thefacial part of the brown bear’s skull from dorsal view was small and thecranium was seen quadrilateral and larger than the dogs. The facial part oflacrimal bone and also the optic groove of presphenoid were absent. There wasnot articulation between maxillary and nasal bones. The interincisive canal waspresent and situated inter palatine processes of incisive bones. The orbitalcavity was small in brown bear. Lacrimal canal was formed by lacrimal andmaxillary bones. The interparietal bone and external sagittal crest in brownbear were seen as being shorter than the dogs. Tympanic bulla was very smalland jugular foramen rounded. The external acoustic meatus was formed bysquamous and tympanic part of temporal bone. In conclusion, the brown bear’sskull has different important macroscopic characteristics compared to othercarnivores