Femoral artery in a Crab-eating fox: case report

Abstract

Despite it is widely distributed in South America, there are few data about the anatomy of the Crab-eating fox. Once the domestic dog can be used as model for clinical and surgical approaches, the anatomical differences found between the Crab-eating fox and the domestic dog are important. The aim of this study is to describe the supplied areas of the femoral artery and its respective branches in Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) and compare them with domestic dogs. Two pelvic limbs from one adult male animal originated from the Niteroi Zoo were used. The vascular system was filled with neoprene latex and fixed with 10% formalin to make the dissection easier. The results displayed similar arrangement for the branches of the femoral artery of the Crabeating Fox in comparison with domestic dogs, except for the Lateral circumflex femoral artery. This artery not only supplied the Satorius muscle, Quadriceps femoris muscle but also the ventral part of the lateral abdominal wall. This study brings data to applied anatomy and biodiversity.

Gluteal nerves in Crab-eating fox

“…It is widely found in South America, except for Chile, Equator and French Guiana (NOWAK, 1991;TCHAICKA, EIZIRIK, OLIVEIRA et al, 2007). The Crab-eating fox is a nocturnal species, with generalist habits, usually found alone or in pairs when feeding (ROCHA, REIS and SEKIAMA, 2004).Although many studies -over than 130, more than 50 in last 4 years -have already been published regarding this species, just few of them reported morphological aspects (BARISSON, LOURO, DIAS et al, 2012;SENOS and BENEDICTO, 2014). Classic titles describe the anatomy of lumbosacral plexus of the domestic animals in details (EVANS and CHRISTENSEN, 1979;GETTY, 1986; KÖNIG and LIEBICH, 2011) but not in wild carnivores.Our study aimed to describe the anatomy of the gluteal nerves of the Crab-eating fox using anatomical dissection methods and compare the results with the domestic dog for homology concerns and surgical application.…”

“…Although many studies -over than 130, more than 50 in last 4 years -have already been published regarding this species, just few of them reported morphological aspects (BARISSON, LOURO, DIAS et al, 2012;SENOS and BENEDICTO, 2014). Classic titles describe the anatomy of lumbosacral plexus of the domestic animals in details (EVANS and CHRISTENSEN, 1979;GETTY, 1986; KÖNIG and LIEBICH, 2011) but not in wild carnivores.…”