Introduction

The pelvis of the armadillos is partially elongated, the ilium trihedral, the ischium largely developed, the pubis slender, the symphysis very short, but generally ossified, and the obturator foramen large.

Objectives

This is a partial result referent to research project that it will be evaluated 15 Dasypus novemcinctus on radiography and computed tomography (CT). Nevertheless, the aim of this study is to describe the features of the pelvis in an animal of this species by radiography, CT and 3D reconstruction.

Methods

A corpse of an adult nine-banded armadillo was acquired to perform radiography and CT examination. It was positioned in lateral and dorsal recumbency to perform radiography of the pelvis and ventral recumbency for the tomography.

Results

The pelvis appeared elongated on radiographic image (image 1) and measured 12.03 cm of the length, 9.32 cm of the width between wings of ilium, 7.28 cm between acetabular dorsal edge, and 8.99 cm between ischial tuberosity. Tomography exam showed the ischium united with the vertebral column in which the broad transverse processes of the five sacral vertebrae coalesced with each other and with the side of the ischium (image 2), and the ilium was also firmly and extensively united with the sacrum. On 3D reconstruction, the bony density was obtained with mean of 410.9 HU (SD = 242.4) (image 3).

Conclusions

Anatomical variant of the pelvis in the armadillos is easily identified on imaging techniques and is fundamental to have the knowledge of this to increase the data described for this species.