Journalartikel

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 2001

Seiten: 335-366

Zeitschrift: Journal für Ornithologie

Bandnummer: 142

Heftnummer: 3

ISSN: 0021-8375

eISSN: 1439-0361

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01651372

Verlag: Springer Verlag (Germany)

Abstract: 
A five and a half weeks old female Kestrel exhibiting osteopathy of the pectoral and pelvic limbs, including symmetrical hyperdactyly, was investigated in order to clarify the pattern of the involved anatomical alterations and the possible causes of this developmental malformation. In the pectoral limb it consisted of a triplication of the alular digit, in the pelvic limb of a duplication of digit I. The live young Kestrel was observed for a period of two weeks to ascertain that it was unable to fly or procure prey on its own. After its death radiographs were taken and, apart from an eidonomic inspection including the wing claws, a detailed macroscopic dissection of the musculature of the pectoral and pelvic limbs was carried out using the 'in-water-method'. Consecutive dissection steps were documented by a series of photographic slides. The relevant musculature, particularly that of the supernumerary digits, was recorded in proportional drawings. Subsequent to maceration of the limbs the isolated bones were reassembled according to the radiographs and also documented by means of photographs and drawings. This anatomical approach produced a reliable reconstruction of the skeletomuscular apparatus of the hyperdactylous limb parts. The eidonomic inspection revealed that at least young Kestrels may have two (alular and major digit) or even three wing claws per side. The proximal skeletal elements of both pectoral and pelvic limb were more sturdily built than in a typical Kestrel of comparable age. The proximal elements of the pelvic limb, the tarsometatarsus in particular, were shorter than in a typical Kestrel. In addition, the long axis of the tarsometatarsus was laterally bent in the transverse plane so that its proximal articular surfaces were medially inclined. Duplication of the cutaneous and osseous elements in the foot was accompanied by a duplication of some of the muscular and/or tendinous elements supplying digit I proper and the accessory digit I'. There were left-to-right asymmetries of the pedal musculature concerned. In contrast, the two accessory alular digits of each wing were almost completely devoid of musculature. Apart from atypical points of origin or insertion of the remaining distal musculature, left-to-right asymmetries and the two accessory alulae per wing, presumably, affected aerodynamic properties and resulted in flightlessness.A juvenile Kestrel of similar age and without hyperdactyly was dissected for comparison, In addition, the external appearance of the carpometacarpal region of two female Silkies, an obligatory pentadactylous breed of domestic fowl, was inspected and the skeletal parts of their pectoral and pelvic limbs compared with those of the hyperdactylous Kestrel. Our results and a literature review suggest that the symmetrical hyperdactyly in the Kestrel bears striking similarities to the hereditary hyperdactyly observed in certain breeds of domestic fowl. In addition, there is a striking resemblance between the hyperdactyly of the young Kestrel and certain forms of hyperdactyly induced by molecular genetical experiments of other authors on chicks. Comparison with these results taken from the literature suggest that the symmetrical hyperdactyly in the young Kestrel, including the alterations of the proximal skeletal elements, is caused by an unusually early expression of the Hoxd-11 gene group during embryological development. Most likely, this gene group is situated on the 2(nd) chromosome in birds just as it is in mammals.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Frey, R., Albert, R., Krone, O. and Lierz, M. (2001) Osteopathy of the pectoral and pelvic limbs including pentadactyly in a young Kestrel (Falco t. tinnuncalus), Journal für Ornithologie, 142(3), pp. 335-366. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01651372

APA-Zitierstil: Frey, R., Albert, R., Krone, O., & Lierz, M. (2001). Osteopathy of the pectoral and pelvic limbs including pentadactyly in a young Kestrel (Falco t. tinnuncalus). Journal für Ornithologie. 142(3), 335-366. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01651372