Morphometric pelvic muscle map analysis in extant and pleistocene carnivores

Abstract

Recent studies in our laboratory have developed maps of pelvic musculature attachment sites (muscle maps) for Neofelis nebulosa (clouded leopard), Felis catis (domestic cat) and >Canis latrans (coyote). Correlations were made between actual muscle attachments and bone morphology at the attachment site. Based on this information we can map muscle attachment sites on bones from extinct closely related species. Pleistocene pelvis specimens were examined for bony muscle attachment sites, measured and photographed at the George C. Page Museum in Los Angeles, California. Specimens included Smilodon fatalis (n=9), Panthera atrox (n=4), Canis dirus (n=6), Canis latrans (n=5), and Arctodus simus (n=2). Muscle map surface areas for eight pelvic muscles were determined for each specimen along with pelvic measurements (ilium/ischium: width/length). The measurements were then compared between and within extant and extinct species listed above. Mm. gluteus medius, quadratus femoris, cranial and caudal gemellus surface areas differed significantly in comparisons between the felids, and between felids and non‐felid species in both extinct and extant groups. Pelvic measurements differed primarily between felid and non‐felids. These results suggest that muscle map surface area analysis may be useful for both phylogenetic and morphometric analysis.