Cranial muscles of the Sulawesi Babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis)

The detailed muscular anatomy of the head of the Sulawesi Babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis) is described for the first time. The results show that the muscular anatomy of the Babyrousa is very similar to the pig genus Sus, despite long geological separation from it. Some differences were noted: the M. parietoauricularis was more clearly separated into two parts in the Babirusa than in the domestic pig; the rostral fibres of the M. levator anguli oculi reached the infraorbital sinus in the Babirusa but only as far as the medial corner of the eye in the domestic pig; the M. palatinus of the Babirusa is paired and did not reach the Os palatinum, unlike its description in the domestic pig and the Platysma pars zygomatica originates from the fascia of the neck in the Babirusa, whereas that of the domestic pig originates largely or entirely from the scapula.