Bone fractures in roadkill Northern Tamandua Tamandua mexicana (Mammalia: Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae) in Costa Rica

Abstract

Northern Tamandua Tamandua mexicana is one of the most common roadkill species encountered on Costa Rican highways. Ten roadkill Northern Tamanduas were collected along different roads in Costa Rica and moved to a veterinary facility where appendicular radiologic studies were undertaken. The number of fractures present in each individual varied from zero to five (mean=2.6), with only one animal sustaining no fractures at all. Most fractures were present in the humerus (31%), followed by the ulna and ilium (both 19%), whilst the cranial portion of the body represented the highest number of fractures (61%). These data can contribute, not only to establishing causes of animal-road-mortalities, but also to the future understanding and decision-making of clinical actions for animals injured on the roads.

Keywords

• anteater
• car accidents
• radiology
• roadways
• wildlife mortality