Bone fractures in roadkill Northern Tamandua Tamandua mexicana (Mammalia: Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae) in Costa Rica

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Randall Arguedas
Elisa C. López
Lizbeth Ovares

Abstract

Northern Tamandua Tamandua mexicana is one of the most common roadkill species encountered on Costa Rican highways.  Ten roadkill Northern Tamanduas were collected along different roads in Costa Rica and moved to a veterinary facility where appendicular radiologic studies were undertaken.  The number of fractures present in each individual varied from zero to five (mean=2.6), with only one animal sustaining no fractures at all.  Most fractures were present in the humerus (31%), followed by the ulna and ilium (both 19%), whilst the cranial portion of the body represented the highest number of fractures (61%).  These data can contribute, not only to establishing causes of animal-road-mortalities, but also to the future understanding and decision-making of clinical actions for animals injured on the roads.

Article Details

Section
Communications
Author Biographies

Randall Arguedas, Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar, Barrio Amón, Calle 13, San José 11594-1000, Costa Rica.

Zoo and wildlife veterinarian and Master of Science degree on Conservation Medicine.  Head veterinarian at the Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar. Professor of Zoo and wildlife medicine and surgery at Universidad Técnica Nacional. Research interests are mainly on baseline physiology, anatomy and diseases of wild vertebrates.  

Elisa C. López, Parque Ecológico Totláli, Guerrero s/n, San Pablo Tejalpa, Zumpahuacán, Estado de México 51986, México.

Veterinarian and general manager at Totláli Ecological Park and legal representative of the National Registry of Scientific and Technological Institutions and Companies (RENIECYT). Currently working on the “Etnobiological Garden†research at the Totláli Ecological Park. 

Lizbeth Ovares, Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar, Barrio Amón, Calle 13, San José 11594-1000, Costa Rica.

Tropical biologist. Head of the Environmental Education Department at the Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar. Research interests are in wildlife urban ecology and human interactions with wildlife.

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