Morphological and Applied Anatomical Studies on the Head Region of Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)

The Malayan sun bear is the smallest of the eight bear species. The aim of the research was to investigate the morphological and applied anatomical characteristics of the head region of the Malayan sun bear. The size of the head is large, broad and heavy in proportion to the body. The skull of the Malayan sun bear was mesocephalic according to the cephalic index (80.48). The skull length, skull width, cranial length and maximum skull height was 21.47 cm, 17.28 cm, 17.81 cm and 9.40 cm, respectively. The nasal length, nasal perpendicular height, nasal horizontal-transverse width and nasal circumference were 3.59 cm, 3.50 cm, 3.20 cm and 10.52 cm, respectively. The length and height of the mandible were 14.65 cm and 7.09 cm, respectively. There is no literature available on the regional applied anatomy of maxillofacial and mandibular regions of the Malayan sun bear. Therefore, this study was designed to provide information on morphological and applied anatomical studies on the head region of the Malayan sun bear. This is the first detailed study to provide morphological characteristics of the head region of Malayan sun bear and this information will aid the clinicians in the application of regional anaesthesia in Malayan sun bear