Morphology and morphometry of the limb girdle and the free part of the pelvis limb of the ostrich.

摘要

The aim of the research was investigate the morphology of the limb girdle and free part of the pelvis limb of the ostrich as well as to establish the measurements of individual bones and determine dismorphic and ontogenetic differences. Studies were conducted on bone material derived from skeletons of fourteen-month-old ostriches (10 males and 10 females). After preparing the research material, absolute parameters of the examined bone structures were established separately for males and females. Analysis included a description of anatomical bone structures and osteometry. Measurements of the length and width of such bones as the pelvis, femur, tibia-tarsal, tarso-metarsal and phalanges III and IV were ascertained during the research process according to methods suggested by Driesch (16). Individual measurements were used for the fibula in order to define the greatest width of the proximal end (NSKB) as well as its optimal length (ND). A set of vernier calipers was used to determine the width and the length of the bone exact to 0,1 mm. Significant sexual dimorphism was observed in the group of studied birds. The variables showing statistically significant differences were: the greatest width of the proximal end of the femur (FBp), the greatest length of the pelvis (GL), the width of the ilium (CB), the width of antitrochanter (BA), the diameter of the acetabulum (DiA). Variables of phalanx III were P3ND1, P3NSKB1, P3NSKD1, P3ND2, P3NSKB2, P3NSKD3 and P3ND4 and all of the studied parameters of phalanx IV indicated statistically significant differences. Clear sexual dimorphism was also found on the basis of measurements of the length (ND) and width (NSKB) of the fibula. Male pelvic bones were significantly bigger than those of females.