POLYDACTYLY AND OTHER FEATURES OF THE MANUS OF THE VAQUITA, PHOCOENA SINUS

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) manus was examined in 16 individuals. The carpus has a proximal row of three bones and a cartilaginous accessory carpal element distocaudal to the ulna. Five metacarpal bones are present. A process in distocaudal aspect of Metacarpal III and an additional digital ray wer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine mammal science 2000-04, Vol.16 (2), p.277-286
Main Authors: Ortega-Ortiz, Joel G., Villa-Ramírez, Bernardo, Gersenowies, Jorge R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
manus
Marine
osteology
Phocoena sinus
polydactyly
Skeleton and joints
vaquita
Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system
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Summary:The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) manus was examined in 16 individuals. The carpus has a proximal row of three bones and a cartilaginous accessory carpal element distocaudal to the ulna. Five metacarpal bones are present. A process in distocaudal aspect of Metacarpal III and an additional digital ray were present in all individuals examined. The number of phalanges in the additional digital ray varied among individuals and, sometimes, between the left and the right flipper of the same individual. The suggested phalangeal formula is I‐1, II‐7‐8, III‐6‐7, IV‐0‐3, V‐3‐4, VI‐1. The presence of this particular form of polydactyly may be the result of genetic drift in the small vaquita population.
ISSN:0824-0469
1748-7692
DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2000.tb00924.x