Gross morphological study of vertebral column of Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)

The present study was performed in an adult Indian palm squirrel which was found dead in the premises of Veterinary College and Research Institute, Salem. The bones of the animal was recovered by biological maceration technique. The vertebral formula of the Indian palm squirrel was C7, T12, L7, S3. Atlas was a thin ring shaped bone. Axis was very short with blunt odontoid process. Third to fifth cervical vertebrae had bifid transverse process and sixth had trifid process. Seventh cervical vertebra had undivided transverse process and foramen transversarium was absent. First nine thoracic vertebrae showed common features and the tenth thoracic vertebra was the anticlinial vertebra. Last two thoracic vertebrae showed similar features of lumbar vertebrae. Spines and transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae inclined forward. Sacrum was quadrilateral, composed of three sacral segments and the dorsal spines were not fused. First seven coccygeal vertebrae were typical with well developed processes, thereafter the vertebrae were composed of bodies only. The morphological findings of the vertebral column of Indian palm squirrel expressed both similarities and also variations between different species of the same family.