Morphology of the air sacs (sacci pneumatici) in the rock partridge (Alectoris graeca).

The aim of the study was to describe the air sacs of the rock partridge. The sacs of 15 adult birds were cast by injection of latex via the trachea and then corroded with 30% KOH at 40 degrees C. The morphology of the sacs was in general similar to that of other avian species described in the literature. There were, however, significant characteristics such as an additional subcutaneous diverticulum of the cranial thoracic sac and a caudally pointing diverticulum of the cervical sac located between the lungs.