Functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Antarctica

Penguins have peculiar modifications in their skeletal anatomy as a consequence of their extremely specialized diving habit. Morphological specialization is particularly evident in the forelimb. However, the kinematics of the pectoral girdle appears to be key to the locomotion of penguins. Penguin s...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina Ileana Alicia, Di Carlo, Ulises
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2012
Materias:
Ciencias Naturales
Spheniscidae
Eocene
Antarctica
Functional morphology
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/96237
https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/11336/75949
https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6016
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-96237
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Naturales
Spheniscidae
Eocene
Antarctica
Functional morphology
spellingShingle Ciencias Naturales
Spheniscidae
Eocene
Antarctica
Functional morphology
Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina Ileana Alicia
Di Carlo, Ulises
Functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Antarctica
topic_facet Ciencias Naturales
Spheniscidae
Eocene
Antarctica
Functional morphology
description Penguins have peculiar modifications in their skeletal anatomy as a consequence of their extremely specialized diving habit. Morphological specialization is particularly evident in the forelimb. However, the kinematics of the pectoral girdle appears to be key to the locomotion of penguins. Penguin scapulae have an unusual morphology among birds. Modern penguins have a very large (especially broad) scapula, whereas this bone is long but narrower in basal fossil species. The recent finding of an incomplete scapula with a singular acromion in the Upper Eocene Submeseta Allomember of the La Meseta Formation Peninsula (Antarctica) in the Antarctic Peninsula reveals a scapula proportionally narrower than those of modern penguins but similar to that of Waimanu and possibly other Eocene species. Osteological comparisons and muscular dissections of modern penguins show that the most striking feature is the curvature of the acromion, and the consequent enlargement of the facies articularis clavicularis. The configuration of the acromion and the corpus scapula reflects a lack of functional optimization in terms of the resistance to forces transverse to the body axis.The scapula´s general morphology suggests it belonged to a medium to large-sized penguin species with no so specialized diving skills.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina Ileana Alicia
Di Carlo, Ulises
author_facet Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina Ileana Alicia
Di Carlo, Ulises
author_sort Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina Ileana Alicia
title Functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Antarctica
title_short Functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Antarctica
title_full Functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Antarctica
title_fullStr Functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Antarctica
title_full_unstemmed Functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Antarctica
title_sort functional implications of a singular penguin scapula (aves, sphenisciformes) from the eocene of antarctica
publishDate 2012
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/96237
https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/11336/75949
https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6016
work_keys_str_mv AT acostahospitalechecarolinaileanaalicia functionalimplicationsofasingularpenguinscapulaavessphenisciformesfromtheeoceneofantarctica
AT dicarloulises functionalimplicationsofasingularpenguinscapulaavessphenisciformesfromtheeoceneofantarctica
bdutipo_str Repositorios
_version_ 1764820491921522690

Ejemplares similares