Ontogeny and occurrence of the corpus fibulae in the domesticated goat (Capra aegagrus f hircus)

Osteological characteristics are often used to identify animal species in a cheap and rapid manner. In this context it is believed that the corpus fibulae of the Goat is represented by a tight cord of connective tissue the so-called ligamentum fibulare. The results of the present morphometric study indicate, however, that in nearly 60% of the 143 examined animals, the corpus fibulae is a pin-shaped flattened piece of bone which may additionally be accompanied by a pyramid-shaped bone lying closely to the caput fibulae. The length of the corpus fibulae increases with age and varies greatly between individuals but its centre is located close to the border between the proximal and the intermediate third of the tibia. The cartilaginous fetal anlage is either transformed to bone or catabolised during fetal live. Desmal ossification should play an important role in the growth of the corpus fibulae since no cartilage could be detected in kids and adult goats.