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Economic anatomy of Rheidae and its implication for the archeological record

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A Correction to this article was published on 24 July 2019

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Abstract

The economic anatomy for Rheidae (Class: Birds) which includes the calculation of the Modified General Utility Index (MGUI) and its component indexes: Meat Utility Index (MUI), Marrow Index (MI), White Grease Index (WGI), and General Utility Index (GUI) are presented in this paper. In addition, I describe the methodology implemented to generate each index and discuss these results, applying them to an archeofaunal setting. The results show net values of meat utility, which are associated to the anatomical portions of the appendicular skeleton; a high grease index, which is associated to the axial portions (mainly pelvis, sacrum, and sternum); and a high marrow index in the tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus. The correlation that exists between the Economic Utility Index and the Structural Bone Density Index shows an equifinality problem. Finally, I compare the Utility Index for other ratites built with the purpose of giving an analogy for all the species that constitute this group of birds.

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  • 24 July 2019

    The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained errors. The below references were missing from the original publication.

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Acknowledgements

This study was made possible by the collaboration of the Natural Resources Direction of the Mendoza Government, San Rafael Delegation, which provided the analyzed specimen, Rhea pennata. Gustavo Neme and Adolfo Gil advised and made critical readings of the manuscript. I would also like to thank the collaboration of Miriam Ayala and Adrián Atencio, who helped with the lab work. The review of an early English version by Clara Otaola, Fernando Franchetti, and Laura Steele were also of great importance for this work. Certainly, none of them are responsible for errors or omissions.

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  1. CONICET-IANIGLA, Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael, Parque Mariano Moreno, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina

    Miguel A. Giardina

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  1. Miguel A. Giardina
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Correspondence to Miguel A. Giardina.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Avian Zooarchaeology: Prehistoric and Historical Insights

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Giardina, M.A. Economic anatomy of Rheidae and its implication for the archeological record. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 11, 6377–6390 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-018-0659-x

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