Iranian Veterinary Surgery Association (IVSA) Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery 2008-3033 21 1 2026 04 01 Radiographic Anatomy of the Limb Skeleton of the Neurergus kaiseri 43 50 230486 10.30500/ivsa.2025.542477.1461 EN Omid Zehtabvar Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-4343-4453 Okan Ekim Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. 0000-0002-3322-4161 Soheila Sehatbakhsh Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 0009-0001-7020-5701 Barbod Safaei-Mahroo Pars Herpetologists Institute, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-3365-6546 Yasin Valizadeh Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 0009-0002-4096-3277 Arman Shahbazi Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 0009-0004-1806-3488 Journal Article 2025 08 20 <span>This study investigates the radiographic anatomy of the forelimb and hindlimb skeletons in the critically endangered Kaiser’s Mountain newt (<em>Neurergus kaiseri</em>), an endemic Iranian salamander. Using non-invasive digital mammography (32 kVp, 80 mAs), we analyzed the osteology of 10 adult specimens (5 males, 5 females) to characterize appendicular skeletal features. The scapulocoracoid was a single bony unit with a prominent glenoid cavity and supracoracoid foramen. The humerus exhibited flattened cranial and caudal crests, while the radius and ulna remained separate, with distinct proximal/distal width patterns. The carpus comprised seven bones (ulnare, radiale, prepollicis, centrale, distal carpals 3–4, and basale commune), and the manus displayed four digits with a phalangeal formula of 2-3-2-2. The pelvic girdle fused into an ilium-ischiopubic plate, lacking an obturator foramen. The femur was longer than the humerus, featuring a medially oriented head and a hook-shaped trochanter. The tibia and fibula were equal in length but shorter than the femur. The pes had five digits (phalangeal formula: 2-2-3-3-2) and seven tarsal bones, including a fused basale commune (distal tarsals 4–5). Comparative analysis revealed key differences from related species (<em>Hynobius setouchi</em>, <em>Batrachuperus londongensis</em>), such as carpal/tarsal bone counts and fusion patterns. These findings provide foundational data for ecological, evolutionary, and conservation studies, highlighting mammography as a viable, non-invasive tool for skeletal research in delicate amphibians.</span> https://www.ivsajournals.com/article_230486_b75bfdb350109660d883523def499806.pdf