author(s)
S Sathapathy, BS Dhote, D Mahanta, Tamilselvan S, I Singh, M Mrigesh and SK Joshi

abstract
The present biometrical study was carried out on the fifth cervical vertebra of six specimens of adult Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. It was revealed that average length of the body was measured to be 5.33±0.03 cm in females that was significantly lesser (P<0.05) than that of males, where it was found to be 5.60±0.06 cm. The average width of the body at the caudal aspect was measured to be 2.08±0.03 cm in females that was significantly lesser (P<0.05) than that of males, where it was found to be 2.23±0.05 cm. The average vertical diameters of vertebral canal at the cranial and caudal aspects were found to be 1.61±0.04 cm and 2.01±0.04 cm in adult Blue bull respectively. The average height of dorsal supraspinous process was found to be 3.88±0.04 cm, whereas the average width of dorsal spinous process at the summit, middle and base were recorded as 2.73±0.05 cm, 2.14±0.03 cm and 1.48±0.03 cm respectively in adult Blue bull. The present biometrical study would be helpful in identification of the bone and would be useful to the wild life professionals for determination of sex of this animal and solving vetero-legal cases related with this species.