The Occurrence and Morphology of a Lateral Metatarsal Splint Bone in Moose ( Alces alces)

• Published in: The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology
• Main Authors: Silvia, William J., Peterson, Rolf O., Silvia, William F., Vucetich, John A., Silvia, Alexander W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2010
• Subjects: Alces alces
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.21323; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Far.21323; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ar.21323

Abstract Moose ( Alces alces ) appear to be different from most other cervids in that a well‐developed metatarsal splint bone is present. It is found apposed to the plantolateral portion of the cannon bone in over 70 % of adults. It averages 3.3 mm in width and extends about 22% of the total length of the metatarsal. It may be derived through calcification of connective tissue or by elongation of the vestigial metatarsal V. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.