Lab #4 Quiz Flashcards
Describe order Artiodactyla
Even toe hoofed mammals
What is the first step within a skull key that differentiates an artiodactyla from previous mammals we’ve studied?
Orbit is completely enclosed by solid bony ring
Family cervidae distinguishing headpiece?
Antlers
Family bovidae distinguishing headpiece?
Horns
Family antilocapridae distinguishing head piece?
Pronghorns
What is the spot on the skull that antlers grow from?
Pedicel
In the cervidae family ONLY males grow antlers except for which species?
Caribou. The females grow small antlers as well
If the antlers are removed how can you tell a female from male caribou skull?
Male pedicel is much larger. Toonie sized.
How can you separate a moose skull from other cervidae?
Big space after nasal for bulbous nose tissue.
Elongated premaxillary
(Vomer doesn’t divide entire length, premaxillaries do not meet nasals)
How can you tell a white tailed deer from other members of the cervidae family?
Antlers come forward over rostrum
One main beam of antler and the others are smaller branches
Shallow lacrimal pit
Supraorbital crest lower than frontal bone
How can you distinguish a mule deer from other members of the cervidae family?
Dichotomous branching.
Deep lacrimal pit.
Supraorbital crest is lower than frontal
Vomer divides entire length of nasal
How can you tell a caribou from other members of the cervidae family?
Caribou tiny primitive canine
Vomer divides entire length
Supraorbital crest is higher than frontal bone
How can you tell an elk skull from other members of the cervidae family?
Primitive canine. Vomer does not divide entire length
Premaxillary meets nasal
lacrimal pit is characteristic of which family?
Cervidae
When lacrimal meets nasal it is which family?
Bovidae
When there is a space between nasal and lacrimal, and lacrimal has NO indentation it is which family?
Antilocapridae
What is unique about horns?
They do NOT branch
The do NOT shed
Is bone with tons of tiny foramena all over
Do bovidae shed their horns?
No they grow all through life
How can you tell the age of a bovidae?
Count the rings on the horns
When there is a smooth lacrimal and a space between lacrimal and nasal it is which family?
Antilocapridae
What is unique about the Pronghorn species?
It is the only member of its family in North America
Are pronghorns deciduous?
Yes
Do female Pronghorns has pronghorns?
Yes they have tiny bone cores
What are the three types of caribou?
-Woodland
-mountain
-barren ground
Think of the 3 places I’ve lived
Woodlands county
Mountain CNP
Barren ground Lethbridge
Do cows always have horns?
They can be bred through selective breeding not to have them
When lacrimal meets nasal it is 100% which family?
Bovidae
What is unique about antlers?
They are solid bone
What family does a deer belong to?
Cervidae
What family does a bighorn sheep belong to?
Bovidae
What family does a pronghorn belong to?
Antilocapridae
Do female deer ever have antlers?
No
What is a supraorbital crest?
Highest point of orbit
What is the difference between horns, antlers and pronghorns?
Horns never shed, they do not branch, they are covered in keratin.
Antlers shed every year, they are solid bone, branched.
Pronghorns solid bone core. mostly not branched but have a piece that goes forward. and covered in keratin, they shed every year
Which animal has palmate antlers?
Moose
Which animal has dichotomous branching of the antlers?
Mule deer
(Deep - Dichotomous Mule)
Caribou antler?
Large, c shaped and palmate near head
Elk antler?
Long and tall featuring several points along it
Mule antler?
Dichotomous branching
FORKS
Mule deer like to much
Heftier antlers
White tailed deer antler?
One main been with delicate smaller branching off main beam
Lacrimal connects with nasal? Which families?
Bovidae
Lacrimal does not connect with nasal. Which families?
Antilocapridae
Cervidae
Which families have a lacrimal pit?
Cervidae
Which families do not have a lacrimal pit?
Antilocapridae
Deep lacrimal pit?
Mule deer
Shallow lacrimal pit?
White tailed deer
Do any female cervidae have antlers?
Yes, caribou females do
How to tell a caribou from a deer skull?
Caribou’s supraorbital crests higher than frontal bone
(Vomer divides entire length of both)
Does the vomer divide the entire length for a deer?
Yes
Does the vomer divide the entire length for a caribou?
Yes
Does the vomer divide the entire length of an elk?
No
Which cervidae have a vomer that divides the entire length?
Caribou and deer
(Alphabetical order)
Which cervidae have a vomer that does NOT divide the entire length?
Elk and moose
(Alphabetical order)
How to tell a moose and elk skull apart
Moose premaxillaries do not meet nasals
Elk have a primitive canine
Vomer does not go the whole way for both
Deer with shallow lacrimal pit?
White tailed deer
(Shallow because they are soft little white tailed deer)
Deer with deep lacrimal pit?
Mule deer
(Deep because they are MULE and more rugged)
What is the point where antlers grow from?
Pedicel
How to tell male from female caribou skull apart?
Makes pedicel is as large as a toonie
2 mule deer distinguishing characteristics
Dichotomous
Deep lacrimal pit
White tailed deer distinguishing characteristics?
One beam
Shallow lacrimal pit
Which 2 have a tiny primitive canine?
Caribou
Elk
What is unique of a moose?
Elongated premaxilla / exceptionally long rostrum
Which member of the cervidae a
Has an elongated premaxilla?
Moose
