Wing and hindlimb myology of vultures and raptors (Accipitriformes) in relation to locomotion and foraging. (6th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hertel, Fritz; Maldonado, Jesús E.; Sustaita, Diego
• Is Part Of: Acta zoologica. Volume 96:Number 3(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 295
• Publication Date: 2014-06-06
• Subjects: Zoology -- Periodicals; 590
• DOI: 10.1111/azo.12074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-7272

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="azo12074-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Herein, we compare functional muscle properties among convergent forms of large, obligate avian scavengers. We performed quantitative analyses of all the muscle masses and cross‐sectional areas (CSA) of the wings and hindlimbs of five species from two families, Cathartidae (New World vultures; <italic>Cathartes aura</italic> and <italic>Vultur gryphus</italic>) and Accipitridae (Old World vultures and raptors; <italic>Gyps africanus</italic>, <italic> Aquila rapax</italic>, and <italic>Buteo lineatus</italic>). These species comprise two paraphyletic functional groups, raptors (<italic>Aquila</italic> and <italic>Buteo</italic>) and vultures (<italic>Gyps, Cathartes, </italic> and <italic>Vultur</italic>). Our ordination analyses based on all of the muscles of the wings, hindlimbs, and wing and hindlimb muscles combined produced patterns that appeared to be more related to phylogeny, with a hint of a functional signal in wing muscle CSA. However, when wing muscles were grouped according to their functional roles (upstroke, downstroke, and wing stabilization), the percentages of mass and CSA allocated to the upstroke and stabilizing muscles were 1.4–5% greater in the vultures than in the raptors. Conversely, when hindlimb muscles were grouped according to their roles in grasping and terrestrial locomotion, the percentages of mass and CSA allocated to grasping muscles were 5.9–14% greater in the raptors. Our results provide a baseline for future lines of inquiry aimed at understanding how muscle mass and CSA are affected differentially across locomotor modules, possibly in response to differential demands on wing and hindlimb function experienced by these disparate accipitriform clades.</p> </abstract>