Anatomical Studies on the Skull of Crow (Corvus splendens)

The present study was conducted on seven Crows ( Corvussplendens ) collected dead. Maceration was carried out with plane water and bones were dried under direct sunlight. The skull of crow did not show any marked difference from typical avian skull. Occipital bone contributed to the formation of foramen magnum.Supra occipital part of this bone presented a raised area which is comparable to the external occipital protuberance of mammals.Foramen magnum was the largest foramen of the skull. Parietal bone was not clearly demarcated. Post-sphenoid was well developed and triangular in outline. Pre-sphenoid bone formed ventral portion of inter orbital septum. Lacrimal bone was very well developed with a ventrally directed lacrimal process. Its shape varied from triangular to roughly quadrilateral. Pre-maxilla was a highly developed bone. Maxillary bone was highly reduced and zygomatic bone was in the form of a thin rod. Pterygoid bone was in the form of a short rod and vomer bone was in the form of single bony palate located in median plane. The nasal frontal hinge was highly mobile in the skull of crow. Quadrate bone was quadrilateral in shape and presented two processes and two condyles. Mandible was a single bone with two halves fused rostrally approximately at an angle of 30° and formed the lower beak. In conclusion, the gross morphological features of crow skull resembled to the typical avian skull with minor variations.Well-developed nasal frontal hinge,larger bill length with its wider base and hooked nature indicated the fruit eating behavior of this bird.