European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 14 - Number 1
Eur J Anat, 14 (1): 35-38 (2010)

A four-legged hen with two cloacae and three caeca

A.O. Olatunji-Akioye1, S.G. Olukole2, A.M. Musa3, A.O. Suleiman4

1Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 3Department of Livestock& Veterinary Services, MANR, Lafia, Nigeria, 4Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Abuja, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Here we report a fourteen-month-old fourlegged local hen in Nigeria with two cloacae and three caeca. The hen walked with only the normal two limbs, which were larger and cranial to the extra two limbs. The extra limbs were usually suspended in the air and pointed caudally during motion, being attached to the pygostyle by cartilage and skin tissue. Investigations of the bird were carried out using radiology, necropsy findings and biometry. The intestines occupied the caudodorsal portion of the abdominal cavity with three caeca attached at the terminal end of the ileum; two on the right side of the median plane and one on the left. The right caecum was fused and had a divided distal end, terminating in two blind sacs. The hen had two cloacal openings, one on each side of the median plane and was observed to consistently defecate only through the right. The findings from our work provide information on multiple developmental abnormalities in the hen.

Keywords: Four limbs, Hen, Intestinal variations

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)