Functional morphology of the aardvark tail.
Functional morphology of the aardvark tail.
复制标题
土豚尾巴的功能形态。
DOI：
10.1111/j.1439-0264.2012.01169.x
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发表时间：
2013
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
H.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Endo;H.
在两个成年标本上对食蚁兽尾巴的肌肉骨骼系统进行了形态学检查。尾部肌肉组织包括三个肌肉群，即由不规则定向的骶尾部背侧肌和骶尾部背侧肌组成的骶尾部背侧系统，外侧椎间连接系统，以及以厚实的骶尾部腹侧肌和骶尾部腹内侧肌为特征的骶尾部腹侧系统。背侧和腹侧系统都有大肌腱群，加强了尾部结构。计算机断层扫描（CT）检查显示存在大而均匀的软骨椎间盘，而V形骨位于椎间盘水平的尾椎腹侧。CT显示，在不同位置的肌腱和V形骨骼表明，当食蚁兽通过前肢位移土壤时，这些结构通过承受躯干重量和提供力来参与隧道挖掘行动。
The musculoskeletal system of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) tail was morphologically examined in two adult specimens. The tail musculature comprised three muscular groups, viz. a dorsal sacrocaudal system that consisted of the irregularly oriented Musculus sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis and M. sacrocaudalis dorsalis lateralis, a lateral inter‐vertebral connecting system, and a ventral sacrocaudal system characterized by the thick M. sacrocaudalis ventralis lateralis and M. sacrocaudalis ventralis medialis. Both the dorsal and ventral systems possessed large tendon groups that strengthened the tail structure. Computed tomography (CT) examination showed the presence of large but homogeneous cartilaginous inter‐vertebral discs, whereas V‐shaped bones were situated at the ventral aspect of the caudal vertebrae at the level of the inter‐vertebral discs. CT visualization of the tendons and V‐shaped bones in various tail positions suggested that these structures contribute to the tunnel digging action by bearing the trunk weight and lending force when the aardvark are displacing the soil by means of the forelimbs.