A Macroanatomic Study on The Hind Limb Bones in Crested Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus)

In this study, differences in the hind limb bones of crested pelicans in comparison to other avian species were assessed. In the study, cadavers of 3 adult female crested pelicans which died due to the different reasons were used. The samples originated from the ponds and reedy lands in Aksaray region and were submitted by the villagers to Aksaray University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Clinic, Diagnosis, and Analysis Lab. Maceration of bones were done according to the maceration techniques. The hind limb skeleton was formed by os coxae, femur, patella, tibiotarsus, fibula, ossa digitorum pedis. Ossa tarsi bones were not observed. Femur was short and has a length of approximately 3/4 of the length of tibia. On the distal part of femur, patella with its sulcus patellaris were present elliptically on the proximal of tibiotarsus. Two sharp and convex protrusions named crista cnemialis cranialis and crista cnemialis lateralis on the part of caput tibia of the tibiotarsus were present . Tarsometatarsus bone was formed by the fusion of the rudimentary os metatarsale I and the bones os metatarsale II, III, V forming the main metatarsus bone, and the distal tarsal bones. In crested pelicans four digits from medial to lateral as ossa digitorum pedis were observed. As a result, the macroanatomical structure of crested pelicans in the Aksaray region had distinct features from other bird species