Anatomic, Radiographic, and Computed Tomographic Study of the Skull in the Persian Squirrel (Sciurus anomalus)

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive anatomical description of the skull of the Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) and to compare these findings with computed tomography (CT) and radiographic features. In this study, four live adult male Persian squirrels were utilised for CT and radiographic imaging, and four dead adult male Persian squirrels were used for anatomical evaluations. The live subjects were anaesthetised to obtain standard diagnostic images. For anatomical preparation, the skin and musculature were meticulously removed. The skulls were then processed using boiling and maceration techniques to eliminate the remaining soft tissues. Hydrogen peroxide was employed for bleaching the bones. Finally, the prepared skulls were subjected to detailed morphological examination. The hypoglossal canal was observed to be double. Instead of a nuchal crest, a nuchal line was present. The jugular process was markedly small. A fossa was identified between the pterygoid bone and the pterygoid process of the basisphenoid bone. The pterygoid canal was located between the presphenoid and the palatine and pterygoid bones. The alar canal was absent. There was a distinct spinous foramen. The styloid process was absent. The cerebellar fossa of the petrous temporal bone was significantly enlarged. The zygomatic process of the temporal bone was relatively small. The zygomatic arch was markedly ventrally positioned. A thin zygomatic process of the maxillary bone was present. The incisive bone was highly developed. The nasal process of the incisive bone articulated with the frontal bone. The maxilla possessed a distinct facial tuberosity. The endoturbinates III and IV were large. The incisor teeth were in a close relationship with the nasal cavity. The interfrontal and interparietal sutures were not visible. The CT and radiographic images obtained in this research can serve as a diagnostic reference for the cranial anatomy of the Persian squirrel, facilitating the interpretation of pathological alterations in this species.