<![CDATA[ABSTRAKKucing hutan (Felis chaus) dan kucing domesik (Felis domesticus) termasuk famili Felidae, namun secara kasat mata terdapat perbedaan morfologi tubuh antara kedua spesies tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengidentifikasi dan membandingkan morfologi dan morfometri tulang-tulang pembentuk skeleton axiale kucing hutan dan domestik. Penelitian ini menggunakan preparat kucing hutan dan kucing domestik masing-masing 1 ekor dan berjenis kelamin jantan yang telah diawetkan dalam larutan formalin. Kucing hutan dan domestik dipreparir untuk mendapatkan tulang-tulang pembentuk skeleton axiale lalu diawetkan dalam larutan formalin 5 % dan dikeringkan pada suhu ruang (27°C). Selanjutnya dilakukan pengamatan morfologi dan morfometri setiap tulang. Hasil pengamatan dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara morfologi tulang-tulang pembentuk skeleton axiale kucing hutan dan domestik memiliki bentuk yang hampir sama, kecuali pada ala atlantis dari os atlas (os vertebrae cervicalis I) kucing hutan lebih sempit dibandingkan ala atlantis kucing domestik. Selain itu bentuk os axis (os vertebrae cervicalis II) kucing hutan lebih ramping dibandingkan kucing domestik. Perbedaan morfologi lainnya ditemukan pada ossa costales dan os sternum yang didukung dengan perbedaan morfometrinya. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa perbedaan morfologi dan morfomteri tulang-tulang penyusun skeleton axiale antara kucing hutan dan domestik ditemukan pada os atlas, os axis, ossa costales, dan os sternum. Kata kunci: skeleton axiale, morfologi, morfometri, kucing hutan, dan kucing domestikABSTRACTWild cat (Felis chaus) and domestic cat (felis domesticus) belong to the Felidae family, but morphologically there are differences in the posture of both species. This study aims to identify and compare the morphology and morphometry of bones forming the skeleton of wild and domestic cats. This study used the preparation of a male wild cat and a male domestic cat that have been preserved in formalin solution. Furthermore, cats were prepared for obtaining skeleton-forming bones and then preserved in 5% formalin and dried at room temperature. After drying, morphology and morphometry were observed and data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that morphologically, the skeleton-forming bones of wild cat and domestic cat axiale had almost the same in shape, except in ala atlantis of os atlas (os vertebrae cervicalis I), where in wild cat the size was narrower than in domestic cat. Additionally, the size of os axis (os vertebrae cervicalis II) in wild cat was slimmer than the bone size in domestic cat. Other morphological differences were found in ossa costales and os sternum which were supported by differences in morphometry. It can be concluded that specifically, the difference of axial skeleton-forming bones between wild and domestic cats were found in os atlas, os axis, ossa costales, and os sternum. Keywords: skeleton axiale, morphology, morphometry, wild cat, and domestic cat]]>
