Observations on the delivered placenta and fetal membranes of the Aardvark, Orycteropus afér (Pallas, 1766)

A macroscopical description is given of the delivered placenta and foetal membranes of an Aardvark. Special attention is paid to the umbilical cord and the relative position of the foetal membranes at the places where these attach to the placenta. Amniotic pustules were found on the umbilical cord and on the antimesometrial side of the amnion. Many dark-coloured spots were found on the villous part of the placenta. A histological investigation was made of the umbilical cord and the amniotic pustules. Groups of longitudinally arranged smooth muscle cells in that part of the umbilical cord that had been closest to the foetus, suggested the presence of a musculus sphincter umbilicalis. The amniotic pustule on the antimesometrial side of the amnion contained many hair follicles. Hence a short commentary is given on the differentiation of the amniotic ectoderm. The dark spots on the placenta histologically appeared to be the remnants of the chorionic vesicles.