Anatomical peculiarities of the broad-snouted caiman’s skull and vertebral column bones (Caiman latirostris)

Abstract

It was noticed that the caiman skull is diaspid, presenting two temporal fossae, one superior (dorsal) and one inferior (lateral). The cranial cavity is reduced compared to the development of the skull, with the orbits and nostrils having a lateral orientation. The occipital has a single articular condyle for the atlas. In front of the first vertebra, atlas, there is an undeveloped proatlas vertebra. The cervical vertebrae have developed transverse processes. There is also a ventral creast on the body of the cervical vertebrae. The thoracic vertebrae have detached transverse processes, which grow towards the end of the region, serving alone for the articulation with the ribs. The sacral region is short, and consist in two vertebrae which articulate with the ilium. The caudal vertebrae bear relatively long neural and haemal spines, forming a ventral arch for the blood vessels.