The Vertebrate SkeletonReynolds, Sidney H. (Sidney Hugh)
Science
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Reynolds, Sidney H. (Sidney Hugh)
Skeleton
While the manus of the Artiodactyla is symmetrical about a line drawn
between the third and fourth digits, that of the _PERISSODACTYLA_ is
symmetrical about a line drawn through the middle of the third digit,
which is larger than the others and has its ungual phalanx evenly
rounded and symmetrical in itself. The most reduced manus in the whole
of the mammalia is found in the Horse and its allies, in which the
third digit, terminated by a very wide ungual phalanx, is the only one
functional. Small splint bones representing the second and fourth
metacarpals are attached to the upper part of the third metacarpal. In
_Hipparion_[174] and other early horse-like animals the second and
fourth digits, though very small and functionless, are complete and
are terminated by small hoofs. In _Rhinoceros_ the second and fourth
digits are equally developed and nearly as large as the third, and
reach the ground in walking, a vestige of the fifth is also present.
In the Tapir (fig. 106, A) and _Hyracotherium_ the fifth digit is
fully developed but is scarcely functional. In _Titanotherium_
(_Brontops_) (fig. 106, B) it is nearly as well developed as any of
the others, and there is little or no difference between the relative
development of the third and fourth digits.
The Chalicotheriidae[175], though distinctly Perissodactyles in
various respects such as their cervical vertebrae and teeth, differ
not only from all other Perissodactyles, but from almost all other
Ungulates, in the very abnormal character of their manus. For while
the carpus and metacarpus are like those of ordinary Perissodactyles,
the phalanges resemble those of Edentates, each second phalanx having
a strongly developed trochlea, and each distal one being curved,
pointed and deeply cleft at its termination (fig. 106, C).
The Macraucheniidae, while agreeing with Perissodactyles in having
only three digits, with the limb symmetrical about a line drawn
through the middle of the third, have a carpus which approaches
closely to the subungulate condition, the magnum articulating
regularly with the lunar, and only to a slight extent with the
scaphoid.
In the SUBUNGULATA the manus sometimes has five functional digits, and
a considerable part of it rests on the ground in walking. The bones of
the carpus retain their primitive relation to one another, the magnum
articulating with the lunar, but not with the scaphoid. This character
does not however hold in the Toxodontia, for in most of the animals
belonging to this group the magnum does articulate with the scaphoid.
The corner of the scaphoid just reaches the magnum also in Amblypoda.
As far as is known the _TOXODONTIA_ generally have three, sometimes
five digits to the manus, and the third is symmetrical in itself--a
Perissodactyloid feature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account