Javan Ferret Badger (Melogale orientalis) Mustelidae

The Javan ferret badger (Melogale orientalis) is a small badger that inhabits Indonesia including Bali and Borneo. Other species are recognized in surrounding Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand, and China. This diminutive skull is an adult as observed from age related suture obliteration and measures 78mm x 47mm. The skull is characterized by the presence of bilateral frontoparietal or parasagittal crests and a dentition indicative of an insectivorous diet.

Posterior View Javan Ferret Badger
Note the parasagittal or frontoparietal crests traversing the dorsum of the skull. The crests indicate that the temporalis muscles insert on these ridges as opposed to inserting on a midline sagittal crest. The result is significantly diminished temporalis muscular size. Parasagittal crests are seen in other insectivorous carnivores including the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteous), bat eared fox (Otocyon megalotis), cape fox (Vulpes chama) and aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) See next image for other species with parasagittal crests.
Image Knowledge and Light Photo Photograph Steve Torna badger canines javanferret badger male mandible melogale orientalis montana mustelidae nasal conchae osteology skull
Parasagittal Crest Development Vulpes, Otocyon, Urocyon, and Proteles
Interspecific examples of insectivores that possess parasagittal or frontoparietal crests. From left to right; gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteous), bat eared fox (Otocyon megalotis), cape fox (Vulpes chama), aardwolf (Proteles cristatus).
Image Photo Photograph aardwolf bat eared fox bone cape fox carnivore comparative anatomy dentition gray fox insectivour knowledgeandlight.com mammal osteology otocyon parasagittal crest proteles sagittal crest skull steve torna vulpes
Lateral View Javan Ferret Badger
Note the delicate zygomatic arches. Most carnivores have substantially larger zygoma's for masticatory muscle stabilization; insectivores simply do not require powerful muscles for crushing insects and small invertebrates.
Image Knowledge and Light Photo Photograph Steve Torna badger canines javanferret badger male mandible melogale orientalis montana mustelidae nasal conchae osteology skull
Lateral View Javan Ferret Badger Mandible
The dentition/tooth sizes and shapes indicate an insectivorous/small invertebrate diet. The tiny posterior teeth are designed to crush insect exoskeletons and small invertebrates. Note that the posterior mandibular masseter depression is shallow and the coronoid processes abbreviated. The opposite (i.e. deep mandibular concavities and elongated coronoid processes) are observed in other mustelids, felids, ursids, and amongst many members of the family viverridae.
Image Knowledge and Light Photo Photograph Steve Torna badger canines javanferret badger male mandible melogale orientalis montana mustelidae nasal conchae osteology skull
Lateral View Javan Ferret Badger Skull
Note that the frontoparietal crest originates at the frontal parietal suture, traverses the parietal bone and merges with the supra occipital crest..
Image Knowledge and Light Photo Photograph Steve Torna badger canines javanferret badger male mandible melogale orientalis montana mustelidae nasal conchae osteology skull
Anterior View Javan Ferret Badger
Image Photo Photograph carnivore comparative anatomy dentition insectivour javan ferret badger knowledgeandlight.com mammal melogale orientalis mustelidae osteology otocyon parasagittal crest sagittal crest skull steve torna weasel
Dorsal View Javan Ferret Badger
Another perspective of the parasagittal crests.
Image Photo Photograph carnivore comparative anatomy dentition insectivour javan ferret badger knowledgeandlight.com mammal melogale orientalis mustelidae osteology otocyon parasagittal crest sagittal crest skull steve torna weasel