Radiographic analysis of the growth rate of long bones in bustards.

Abstract A serial radiographic study was conducted on seven houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii ), 10 rufous-crested bustard ( Eupodotis ruficrista ), four white-bellied bustard ( Eupodotis senegalensis ) and eight kori bustard ( Ardeotis kori ) chicks to determine the growth rate of long bones and to establish radiographic standards for assessing skeletal maturity. The growth rates of the tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus in the bustard species investigated were similar to those in domestic fowl ( Gallus domesticus ) and some long-legged avian species. Maturation of long bones occurred earlier in houbara bustards compared with rufous-crested, white-bellied and kori bustards.