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. 2020 Dec 30;13(1):569.
doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05403-9.

Skeletal dysplasia-like syndromes in wild giraffe

Michael Butler Brown  1   2   3 , Emma Wells  4
Affiliations

Skeletal dysplasia-like syndromes in wild giraffe

Michael Butler Brown et al. BMC Res Notes. .

Abstract

Objective: Skeletal dysplasias, cartilaginous or skeletal disorders that sometimes result in abnormal bone development, are seldom reported in free-ranging wild animals. Here, we use photogrammetry and comparative morphometric analyses to describe cases of abnormal appendicular skeletal proportions of free-ranging giraffe in two geographically distinct taxa: a Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis) in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda and an Angolan giraffe (Giraffa giraffa angolensis) on a private farm in central Namibia.

Results: These giraffe exhibited extremely shortened radius and metacarpal bones relative to other similarly aged giraffe. Both giraffe survived to at least subadult life stage. This report documents rare occurrences of these apparent skeletal dysplasias in free-ranging wild animals and the first records in giraffe.

Keywords: Disproportionate dwarfism; Giraffe; Skeletal dysplasia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagram of diagnostic morphometrics for digital photogrammetry
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Lateral photographs of giraffe. a A typical subadult male giraffe in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. b A subadult male exhibiting skeletal dysplasia-like syndrome in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. c A subadult male exhibiting skeletal dysplasia like syndrome on a private farm in Namibia
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Summary of morphometric analyses for key anatomical features across age/sex classes. Samples sizes for each measurement are enumerated in the corresponding columns. Both the Ugandan and the Namibian focal giraffe comparisons were made with one measurement. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals around mean values
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Sample photogrammetry calibration curve for the Canon 7d MarkII body with Canon Ultrasonic IS 100–400 mm lens at multiple focal lengths
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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