Comparative Study of Masticatory Muscles in the Goose (Anser anser domesticus) and the Long-Legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

Abstract

In this study, six adult long-legged buzzards (Buteo rufinus) weighing 1000-1200 g and five adult geese (Anser anser domesticus) weighing 4500-5000 g with different feeding patterns were used. Goose has eight masticatory muscles named as m. adductor mandibula externus, m. adductor ossis quadrati, m. depressor mandibula, m. pterygoideus, m. pseudotemporalis profundus, m. pseudotemporalis superficialis, m. protractor pterygoidei and m. protractor quadrati. Due to the absence of m. pseudotemporalis profundus, long-legged buzzard has seven masticatory muscles. Differences has been detected between these species in means of some muscle's origo and insertio and their parts. In goose, m. adductor mandibula externus was formed from three parts, named as pars rostralis, pars ventralis and pars profunda, but in long-legged buzzard it is formed by two parts named as pars rostralis and pars profunda. While m. depressor mandibula was constituted from two parts in goose, the same muscle was observed as a single part in long-legged buzzard. Furthermore, in the goose, m. pterygoideus was detected as having three parts named as pars ventralis, pars intermedialis and pars dorsalis, but in long-legged buzzard it was formed by only one part which is thicker compared to the other masticatory muscles.