The findings on the humerus complied well with the literature reports except the smaller dorsal condyle on the humeral trochlea and ventral supracondylar tubercle at the distal end of the humerus. The ventral remigal papillae on the ulna were hardly observable and well less developed even though the long-legged buzzard is in the class of very strong flyers. The features of the bones of the manus skeleton were also similar with the general pattern of avian anatomy.

This study aimed to identify the data using these bones in order to separete different bird species.

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Figure 1A: Humerus, caudal surface: 1, pneumotricipital fossa; 2, pneumatic foramen. B: cranial surface: 1, bicipital crest; 2, ventral tubercle; 3, head of the humerus; 4, dorsal tubercle; 5, deltopectoral crest; 6, groove for the coracobrachial nerve; 7, dorsal supracondylar tubercle; 8, fossa for the brachial muscle.

Well developed capital groove was present, located between the articular surface of the head of the humerus and ventral tubercle. The deltopectoral crest extended down to one third of the bone and was stronger than bicipital crest. The transversal groove resembled a deep fovea. The prominent transverse groove for the coracobrachial nerve was present at the distal aspect of the intertubercular plane of the humerus.

The pneumotricipital fossa was a highly large and deeply developed excavation. The pneumatic foramen was single and wide. Caudally located fossa for the dorsal and ventral crura, and cranially bounded coracobrachial impression were highly distinct structures.

At the distal end of the humerus, a well developed ventral condyle and a smaller dorsal condyle were present on the humeral trochlea. Separating the dorsal and ventral condyles of the humerus, the intercondylar notch was very deep. The dorsal supracondylar tubercle was distinct while the ventral one was relatively less developed. A deep fossa for the brachial muscle was present on the ventral aspect of the distal extremity of the humerus. On the other hand, a small and shallow scapulotricipital groove and a deep humerotricipital groove were observed on the dorsal aspect of the distal end of the humerus.

Some measurements of the humerus are displayed in table 1.

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Table 1: Measurements of the humerus, cm.

Antebrachium (Fig. 2) was the longest bone of the wing, possessing the longer and stronger ulna (Fig.2/1) and smaller and medially located radius (Fig. 2/2). The spatium between the two was proximally wider. The olecranon was less developed while the radial incisura was prominent. The ventral remigal papillae for attachment for the ligaments of the follicles of the secondary flight feathers were hardly observable. The carpal tubercle on the ventral aspect of the distal end of the ulna was a well developed structure and the radial depression on the dorsal aspect of the ulna showed a wide articular surface. Some measurements of the ulna and radius are shown in table 2 and 3, respectively.

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Table 2: Measurements of the ulna, cm.

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Table 3: Measurements of the radius, cm.

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Figure 2: General view of the antebrachium. 1, ulna; 2, radius. A: distal extremity of the antebrachium and carpal bones. 1, ulnar os carpi; 2, radial os carpi; 3, carpal tubercle.

The proximal extremity of the radius was narrower than the ventral one. The humeral cotyla completely covered the dorsal surface of the head of the radius. The bicipital tubercle on the proximal extremity of the radius was well developed. The intermuscular lineae on the body of the radius were also highly distinct features. On the distal extremity of the radius, the tubercle for the ventral aponeurosis was apparent and a single deep tendinous groove was present on the dorsal aspect of the distal extremity of the radius.

There was a larger and prominent ulnar os carpi (Fig. 2A/1) and a smaller and less developed radial os carpi (Fig. 2A/2).

The major metacarpal bone (Fig. 3/4) was a strong and smooth bone while the minor metacarpal one (Fig. 3/3) was weak, possessing a slightly concave structure in nature. The intermetacarpal space was very narrow. The alular metacarpal bone (Fig. 3/2) was also present and well developed.

Some measurements of the major and minor metacarpal bones are depicted in Tables 4 and 5, respectively.

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Table 4: Measurements of the major metacarpal bone, cm.

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Table 5: Measurements of the minor metacarpal bone, cm

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Figure 3: General view of the metacarpal and phalanx bones. 1, alular digital phalanx; 2, alular metacarpal bone; 3, minor metacarpal bone; 4, major metacarpal bone; 5, minor digital phalanx; 6, major digital phalanx.

The major digital phalanx (Fig. 3/6) possessing two distinct bones was the largest bone among the ossa digiti manus. The minor digital phalanx (Fig. 3/5) and bones of the alular digital phalanx (Fig. 3/1) were also present.

Likewise, literatures ^3,4,7 reported that the ventral remigal papillae for attachment for the ligaments of the follicles of the secondary flight feathers should be very prominent and greatly developed in strong flyers and reduced in non-flyers. These features in the present study on the long-legged buzzard which is even though in the class of very strong flyers were, on the other hand, hardly observable and well less developed, resembling those of walking birds.

The features of the bones of the manus skeleton in the long-legged buzzard observed hereby complied at gross anatomical aspect with the general pattern of avian anatomy. An example of that is the width of the intermetacarpal space. Literature reports ^4,5,8,9 have indicated that it is narrow in flying birds and very wide in walking ones. This example again rendered the long-legged buzzard as a strong flyer.

Numerical data obtained in this study was not statistically analyzed; thus, average values of each feature are shown in tables since the number of the animal used here was only two already dead animals. This is for the fact that some of the wild animals such as the long-legged buzzards are not easily obtainable since their populations have been decreasing and they are endangered species.

As a consequence, the findings on the humerus were in parallel with the literature reports except the smaller dorsal condyle on the humeral trochlea and ventral supracondylar tubercle at the distal end of the humerus. The ventral remigal papillae for attachment for the ligaments of the follicles of the secondary flight feathers were hardly observable and well less developed even though the long-legged buzzard is in the class of very strong flyers. The features of the bones of the manus skeleton were also similar with the general pattern of avian anatomy.

1) Nickel R, Schummer A, Seiferle E. The Skin Anatomy of the Domestic Birds. Berlin: Verlag Paul Parey, 1977: 14-15.

2) King AS, Mclelland J. Birds, Their Structure and Function, 2nd ed. London: Bailliere Tindall, 1984: 58-60.

3) Hifny A, Abdalla KEH, Alam El-Din MA. Relation of the length of the main bones of the wing and pelvic limb to the mode of locomotion in certain birds. Accepted and discussed. Proc. of XVII Kongress. European Association of Veterinary anatomists, 1988; 28: 8-19.

4) Abdel-Moneim ME. Role of the bones of the wing and pelvic limb of quails in its mode of locomotion. Assuit Vet Med J 1992; 27: 1-11.

5) Bozkurt EU, Duzler A, Ozgel O, Kurtul I. Morphometric and morphological features of the bones of the wing in bald ibis. Indian Vet J 2002; 79: 470-476.

6) Demirsoy A. Basic Rules of Life, Vertebrates/Amniota (Reptiles, Birds, Mammals), Part: III/II. Ankara: Meteksan, 1992: 345-346.

7) Nomina Anatomica Avium.: International Committee on Avian Anatomical Nomenclature. A Committee of the World Association of Veterinary Anatomists, A Handbook of Avian Anatomy, 2nd ed., No.23 Cambridge MA: The Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1993.

8) Samuel OP, Sanches-Halman A, Goslow JR GE. Wing upstroke and the evolution of flapping flight. Nature 1997; 387: 799-802.

9) Baumel JJ, Witmer LM. Osteologia. In: Baumel J.J. (ed.): Nomina Anatomica Avium, A Handbook of Avian Anatomy, 2nd ed., No.23, Cambridge, MA: The Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1993: 128.