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Scaling and functional morphology in strigiform hind limbs.
Meena A Madan1, Emily J Rayfield1, Jen A Bright2,3
1School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Scientific Reports
|March 23, 2017
Summary
Owl hind limb morphology varies with body mass. Tarsometatarsus robusticity suggests it played a key role, potentially allowing body mass estimation in fossil owls.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Comparative Anatomy
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Owls (Strigiformes) possess specialized hind limb adaptations for predation.
- Understanding hind limb scaling provides insights into owl evolution and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze hind limb element scaling with body mass in owls.
- To determine functional differences between owl hind limb elements.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of femoral, tibiotarsal, and tarsometatarsal dimensions.
- Scaling analysis of element length, midshaft width, and robusticity index (RI) against body mass.
Main Results:
- Femoral and tibiotarsal width scale isometrically; lengths scale with negative allometry.
- Tarsometatarsus width shows strong positive allometry, while length shows strong negative allometry.
- Tarsometatarsal robusticity index scales significantly with body mass, unlike femora and tibiotarsi.
Conclusions:
- Tarsometatarsi exhibit a more substantial functional role compared to femora and tibiotarsi.
- Tarsometatarsal scaling patterns may enable body mass inference in extinct owl species.
- Fossil tarsometatarsi are valuable for reconstructing prehistoric owl ecology.
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