Salut everybody.
This is an inquiry concerning the occurrence of medullary bone in birds. In
case you are not interested in the subject, click the delete button NOW. (If
you are, continue reading).
Last week, the ICAZ bird working group had its meeting at Munich, and it was
an exciting conference, splendidly organized (by Joris Peters, Angela von
den Driesch and Gisela Grupe) and we all had a fabulous time. A topic that
was discussed on several occasions was the medullary bone of birds, more
precisely, the anatomical parts in which it may be formed, and if this may
differ from species to species, and in particular in domestic species bred
for a high output of eggs. The points where most participants agreed upon
was that it always occurs in femur and tibiotarsus, but not in humerus. Some
recalled to have found it in the ulna, several reported medullary bone in
the coracoid, and so on. It turned out that our knowledge is not based on
systematic observations. It was proposed to do a little survey among the
most competent (the ZooArch-list, that is).
So, if you have any finds of medullary bone, would you kindly provide me
with the pertinent information? I would appreciate if you could do so in the
following fashion:
- species
- anatomical part(s)
- location/period
- publication (full citation please, if possible)
- are there pictures of medullary bone in publ.?
- if not published, pictures available?
In case you are willing to check (cut open) the bones of a specimen of your
comparison collection that would be great as well. (sugg. start with the
femur to make sure it's a female in the laying cycle, then check all other
bones). I have done so with a mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) that had died the
end of March (in Switzerland). Femur and tibiotarsus, coracoid, clavicula,
scapula, costae, ilium, ischium, and pubis were full of medullary bone, but
no traces of it were found in humerus, ulna, radius, carpometacrpus,
tarsometatarsus, phalanges of foot and hand, and sternum.
I guess it would make sense if you sent your infos directly to me (e-mail
below), and I will compile them and have the results posted on the list in
the next few weeks or so.
Thanx a lot for your time and your support
Vern
*********************************
Werner Müller
Service d'archéologie
Laboratoire d'archéozoologie
Chemin de Maujobia 8
2000 Neuchâtel
Suisse
ph. +41-32-725 11 80
fax. +41-32-725 11 84
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
|