Variation among ungulates in flexibility of fetlock joint

The following photos of Rangifer tarandus tarandus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_reindeer) provide food for thought:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/wild-reindeer-running-norway-scandinavia-115993429 and https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/walking-reeindeer-against-natural-landscape-norway-118110622.

The following shows that the false-hooves (dewclaws) touch the ground even during walking:
https://www.alamy.com/reindeer-rangifer-tarandus-walking-by-a-road-in-lapland-sweden-image151592775.html.

However, they do not touch the ground during standing:
https://www.dreamstime.com/reindeer-road-adult-male-reindeer-huge-antlers-standing-along-road-rangifer-tarandus-image126358242 and https://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-258567196/stock-photo-reindeer-standing-on-the-road-%28rangifer-tarandus%29.

This suggests that, in Rangifer tarandus, the false-hooves (dewclaws) tend to touch the ground even when walking on firm surfaces.

The following shows that, in Alces alces, the false-hooves likewise touch the ground during trotting on a firm surface:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/large-female-moose-crossing-road-on-556506865

However, in the case of A, alces, thenfalse-hovves remain clear of the ground during walking:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Moose_crossing_a_road.jpg

Alces alces:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/moose-wyoming-752967940
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/moose-crosses-road-on-cabot-trail-176672474
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/female-moose-crosses-alaska-highway-near-1652325463

https://www.tripsavvy.com/how-to-avoid-hitting-deer-and-moose-with-car-2973107

https://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/travel-safety-health-news-674/the-moose-a-rare-but-often-deadly-road-hazard-743859.html

Bubalus carabanensis:

https://wildsidenaturetours.com/?attachment_id=2167#foobox-1/0/SRI-LANKA-Water-Buffalo-f-2000-BINNS-D64A2575-copy.jpg
https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/7555222-man-with-buffalo-crossing-the-road
https://travel67.com/2016/07/24/water-buffalo-crossing/

Posted on 13 February, 2023 22:46 by milewski