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Comparative hindlimb myology within the family Falconidae

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Abstract

A characteristical feature of a raptors’ hindlimb is their strengthen musculature that aids gripping prey with their sharp talons. To trace specific anatomical modifications it is necessary to study closely related species, with this aim, the myology of the hindlimb of the three subfamilies of Falconidae is explored. For this, a description of a Herpetotherinae member (Micrastur ruficollis) was made for the first time. The hindlimb muscle mass of Polyborinae, Falconinae and Herpetotherinae was compared according to their main function (flexion and extension) on their joints (femur, tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus and digits). The pattern of Micrastur ruficollis resembles that of the Falconidae except for a few differences towards the development of certain muscles. As it is noteworthy the presence of the second belly of the musculus flexor cruris medialis (unique among birds), its identity will be discussed. Also, Micrastur ruficollis had the highest values of the hindlimb mass. Polyborinae and Falconinae had several differences between each other. The muscles mass of the hip and knee, both flexion and extension, were higher in the Polyborinae, this is in accordance to their more terrestrial habit. Instead, Falconinae had a higher mass in the m. flexor digitorum longus, m. flexor hallucis longus and m. tibialis cranialis, the most important muscles for gripping prey.

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Acknowledgements

This paper was possible thanks to the access of materials by Yolanda Davies (Museo Bernadino Rivadavia, MACN), GP Guillermo Gil and Tec. Marcelo Cavicchia (Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi PN° 1380). Thanks to Mariana Picasso for always giving a detailed reading and suggestions for the improvement of this paper, to Erica San Martín for the improvement of the English and Guillermo Cassini for his guidance on some of the contents of this MS and for his (I assume) great patience.

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  1. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Clelia Mosto

  2. División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Clelia Mosto

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  1. María Clelia Mosto
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Correspondence to María Clelia Mosto.

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Mosto, M.C. Comparative hindlimb myology within the family Falconidae. Zoomorphology 136, 241–250 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-017-0343-1

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