The Deseado Formation of PatagoniaLoomis, Frederic Brewster
Science
The Deseado Formation of Patagonia
Loomis, Frederic Brewster
Paleontology -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
The cuboid is a nodular bone, its upper surface occupied by the facet
for the calcaneum, the lower face occupied by the facet for Mt. IV,
while on the external side there is a tiny beveled facet for the
vestige of Mt. V, and with a small boss on the inner surface which
carries two tiny facets, the upper one for the ectocuneiform and the
lower for the navicular. On this same inner side, near the top there
is a second small boss, which carries a tiny facet to rub on the
astragulus, and below that a second tiny facet for the navicular.
[Illustration: Fig. 12. Cuboid internal side to show: _a_, facet for
astragulus; _b_, upper facet for navicular; _c_, facet for calcaveum;
_d_, lower facet for navicular; _e_, facet for mesocunieforms—½ natural
size.]
The pes consists of three digits, with a vestige of Mt. V. Of the
developed digits, the median one is the largest, but the two lateral
digits are only a little smaller and were functional, so that this
form was truly three-toed, comparable in the digital reduction to
_Mesohippus_.
Mt. II is flattened above but soon broadens into a rounded shaft of
considerable length, on the end of which is the articular trochlea,
with the carina extending onto both the upper and lower surface,
being, however, higher on the lower surface. Proximally this bone is
overlapped by the endocuneiform, is carried by the small mesocuneiform,
and also articulates on the inner side of the ectocuneiform. Mt. III
is also compressed at the upper end, broadens below, and carries an
articular trochlea similar to that of Mt. II, except that the carina
does not extend so far onto the upper surface. Like Mt. II, Mt. IV is
carried high on the tarsus, and therefore, though nearly as long as
Mt. III, it does not have the same effective length. Proximally it
articulates entirely on the cuboid; distally it has a trochlea similar
to that of Mt. II, the carina extending onto the dorsal surface. While
Mt. V is lacking, it is clearly indicated that a vestige of it should
have been present, as there is a tiny articular surface for it on the
cuboid, and a rugose surface on the outside of Mt. IV.
The phalanges are long and have the articular ends swollen somewhat as
in camels. The phalanges of the first row are nearly equal in size,
each with the proximal trochlea deeply notched for the carina of the
metatarsus; and with the distal trochlea simple, though slightly
concave from side to side, and reflexed well onto the dorsal surface.
The phalanges of the second row are shorter and simpler, and somewhat
depressed distally. The ungual phalanges are flattened from top to
bottom, of moderate size, somewhat longer than wide, and without any
indications of a cleft.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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