Anatomical Studies of the Vocal cord (Syrinx) of Male and Female Canary (Serinus canaria).

Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the gross and histological differences in the vocal organ (syrinx) of male and female canary (Serinus canaria). Ten (10) canary birds were used for this study (5 males and 5 females). The canary birds were sourced from surrounding villages of Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The live birds were transported to the Gross Anatomy Laboratory in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Each bird was euthanized using 100mg/kg sodium pentobarbitone injection intraperitoneally. A pair of scissors and scalpel blade was used to gently expose the syrinx following an incision on the lateral muscles of the neck. The syrinx was extracted and preserved in 10% formalin for histological evaluations. Grossly, the syrinx of canary birds is located at the bifurcation of the trachea as a bulge-like structure in both males and females. Male canary has a more prominent and massive syrinx with more trachea rings than their female counterparts. Histologically, male canary birds have more syringeal cartilages made of hyaline cartilage with definite roundish shape than their female counter parts. Prominent syringeal muscles were observed in male than female. In conclusion, the complexity of the syrinx of male canaries confers them a louder vocal sound (beautiful melody) which is deployed during courtship with female canary and also used as an armory against other males when courtship and mating has occurred.