Anatomoradiographic study in red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) skull

• Grant number: 23/14997-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Maria Jaqueline Mamprim de Arruda Monteiro
• Grantee: Bianca Balbino Romano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) is the most common chelonian kept in captivity in Brazil, due to its great adaptability and calm behavior. However, to obtain these animals, they become victims of illegal trade, leading to the compromise of their health and welfare, representing a frequent casuistic in the wildlife veterinary medicine. In view of this, studies about the species have been developed with the aim to contributing to the veterinary clinic routine, however, these are still no radiographic studies of the red-footed tortoise skull. The various diagnostic imaging methods are important tools in both clinical and surgical veterinary practice, with radiography being the most used method due to its cost-effectiveness. Nonetheless, the practice becomes challenging due to the lack of anatomical studies involving reptiles. For this reason, the objective of this study will be to describe the bones that make up the structure of the red-footed tortoise skull through radiographic examination examination and skull anatomical characteristics.