Osteology of the pelvic limb of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Abstract

The pelvic girdle was characterized by large, transversely-placed ilial wings. The femur was the longest bone of the skeleton and its fovea capitis was situated caudomedially between the epiphyseal line and the articular surface of the femoral head. A wedge-shaped patella articulated with the femoral trochlea. The bones of the crus were approximately half as long as the femur and consisted of the sturdy tibia and slender fibula. The condyles of the tibia were concave and the femoro-tibial joint was congruent with rudimentary menisci. The tarsus consisted of seven bones which were arranged in three rows. There were five metatarsal bones. Only four digits were present, the third and fourth consisted of three phalanges each while the second and fourth digits were smaller and consisted of two phalanges each. The first digit was represented by one proximal sesamoid bone only. A large, cartilagenous rod or prehallux was attached to the first tarsal and metatarsal bones. Proximal sesamoid bones were present on the plantar aspect of the trochleae of metatarsal bones 1- V. The pes was found to be digitigrade and the digits rested on a thick pad of elastic connective tissue and fat.