Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2007
Volume 10
Issue 4
Topic:
Biology
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Pierko M. 2007. MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT IN MALLARD ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS AND SCAUP AYTHYA MARILA, EJPAU 10(4), #08.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume10/issue4/abs-08.html

MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT IN MALLARD ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS AND SCAUP AYTHYA MARILA

Ma³gorzata Pierko
Department of Zoology, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland

 

ABSTRACT



The investigations comprised the upper respiratory tract in 100 adult ducks: 57 mallard Anas platyrhynchos (30 males and 27 females) and 43 scaup Aythya marila (26 males and 17 females). The work aimed at the anatomical comparison of the organs constituting the upper respiratory tract. Had the sex and age of the investigated birds been determined, the specimens of the upper respiratory tract, preserved in 4% formaldehyde solution, were described morphoanatomically including the larynx, trachea, syrinx and bronchi primarii. The interspecific comparisons of males and females of both species indicated a considerable divergence in the shape, size and structure of the syrinx. They refer, among others, to an extensive membrane, a constituent of the syrinx tympanum in the drakes of scaup which was absent in mallard.

Key words: mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), scaup (Aythya marila), larynx, trachea, syrinx, bronchi primarii.


Ma³gorzata Pierko
Department of Zoology,
West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland
Doktora Judyma 20, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland
Phone: 091 449 67 30
email: malgorzata.pierko@zut.edu.pl

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.