Abstract / Summary
The present investigation explores the cranial anatomy of the European badger (Meles meles) through computed tomography (CT), aiming to fill existing gaps in wild-carnivore osteology and supply a reliable imaging benchmark for veterinary practice. Given the limited CT-based documentation of mustelid skulls, this work addresses a critical need for precise anatomical references in wildlife medicine. Five adult female cadavers (body mass 8.85–10.32 kg), collected in Semnan Province, Iran, underwent high-resolution scanning (Siemens Somatom Spirit). Volume-rendered 3D models and multiplanar transverse slices disclosed a stout zygomatic arch, an enlarged infraorbital foramen, and sharply defined external sagittal and nuchal crests—features linked to powerful mastication and burrowing. The frontal sinus appeared expansive, conferring structural rigidity, whereas the maxillary recess and sphenoid sinus were compact yet distinct. Within the nasal cavity, elongated dorsal nasal conchae, a midline septum, and a robust vomer with pronounced ventral grooves collectively optimize olfactory performance. Unlike earlier linear morphometric reports, these volumetric data reveal previously undescribed internal compartmentalization and spatial relationships. The study thus furnishes a diagnostic foundation for cranial trauma, neoplasia, and sinus pathology in wild carnivores while highlighting CT’s superiority in capturing species-specific functional morphology.