Another look at tarsometatarsi of early penguins

• Published in: Polish Polar Research
• Main Author: Jadwiszczak Piotr
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Academy of Sciences 2015
• Subjects: Antarctica; Eocene; Holocene; Sphenisciformes; foot anatomy; reconstruction; Geology; QE1-996.5; Antarc*; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/popore-2015-0024; https://doaj.org/article/6686b2b7f40143c0b8460464078bcd71

The tarsometatarsus, a compound bone from the lower leg in birds, is the most important skeletal element in fossil penguin taxonomy, especially in the case of early members of this group. However, any attempt to go beyond the problem of mere classification obviously requires the better understanding of osteological traits under consideration. This in turn touches on the issue of interplay between bone and concomitant soft-tissue structures, such as muscles, tendons and vessels. This paper focuses on the more holistic comprehension of the tarsometatarsal section of the Eocene penguin foot, based on the analysis of the myology and the vascular system of its modern counterparts. A number of graphical reconstructions are provided with a discussion of the role of the hypotarsus and intermetatarsal foramina.