The anatomy of the bifurcated neural spine and its occurence within Tetrapoda. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Woodruff, D. Cary
• Is Part Of: Journal of morphology. Volume 275:Number 9(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: NA
• Page End: NA
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Morphology -- Periodicals; Physiology -- Periodicals; Anatomy -- Periodicals; 571.3
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20314
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-2525

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p> <bold>Cover illustration</bold>. Vertebral neural spine bifurcation is considered to be restricted to sauropodomorph dinosaurs, supposedly an adaptation in response to the increasing weight from the horizontally extended cervical column. In this issue of the Journal of Morphology, Cary Woodruff (pp. 1053–1065<ext-link ext-link-type="doi" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">10.1002/jmor.20283</ext-link>) reports about his studies on the soft tissue surrounding neural spine bifurcation in a terrestrial quadruped model species, Ankole‐Watusi cattle. With horns weighing up to a combined 90 kg, the Ankole‐Watusi is unlike any other breed of cattle in terms of cranial weight and presence of neural spine bifurcation. The cover image shows the world record holding Ankole‐Watusi steer "Lurch". The circumference of Lurch's horns are 95.25 cm, and from tip‐to‐tip the horns are nearly 243 cm in breadth. Image courtesy T. Dobbs.</p> </abstract>