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1 January 2011 Pathology of an Unusual Lumbar Condition in a Young Black Bear (Ursus amercanus) from the Big Bend Region of Trans-Pecos Texas
Frederick B. Stangl Jr, Dana R. Mills, Michael W. Haiduk
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Abstract

The skeleton of a young American black bear (Ursus americanus) possessing asymmetrical distortions of the 5 caudalmost lumbar neural spines was recovered from west Texas. We attribute this abnormality, presumed to be congenital, to the absence or atrophy of the right multifidus muscle straddling L3 and to the series of compensatory muscle adjustments required to maintain spinal alignment. This finding may have important management implications for black bears in Texas, given the possibility that our specimen originates from a partially isolated population.

© 2010
Frederick B. Stangl Jr, Dana R. Mills, and Michael W. Haiduk "Pathology of an Unusual Lumbar Condition in a Young Black Bear (Ursus amercanus) from the Big Bend Region of Trans-Pecos Texas," Western North American Naturalist 70(4), 573-576, (1 January 2011). https://doi.org/10.3398/064.070.0419
Received: 4 December 2009; Accepted: 1 August 2010; Published: 1 January 2011
KEYWORDS
black bear
lumbar abnormality
skeletal pathology
Trans-Pecos Texas
Ursus americanus
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