The Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a medium-sized highly arboreal cat. This study compares the structure of the digital, metacarpal and metatarsal pads of the manus and pes in N. nebulosa to that of the domestic cat (Felis catus). Covered by a stratified squamous cornified epithelium, the pads have a supple deposit of subepidermal fat that is partitioned by collagen fibers and extensively anchored to the muscle tendon sheaths. In both animals, a pes metatarsal pad suspensory ligament originates from the Mm. flexores digitorum profundi tendon and forms 3-4 small branches that project through the dermal fat layer and attach to the pad epidermis. In the cat manus, four tendons of equal size extend from the M. flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) to form the manica flexoria in digits 2-4 from which extends a metacarpal pad suspensory ligament (MPSL) on digits 2 and 5 that extends into the tela subcutanea and epidermis. On digits 3 and 4 MPSL extends directly from the FDS tendon itself. In contrast, manus FDS tendons 1 and 5 in N. nebulosa were thin and either project directly to the tela subcutanea (tendon 1) or connect with the manica flexoria forming a metacarpal pad suspensory ligament (tendon 5). Tendons 2-4 connect with the manica flexoria from which MPSL project into the tela subcutanea and epidermis. In both species, the suspensory ligaments may serve to contract the pad to conform to the under lying substrate, thus enhancing the animal's ability to grip branches while climbing.
The clouded leopard (N. nebulosa) is an endangered felid native to Southeast Asia. It is considered to be the largest and most acrobatic of the arboreal cats. To date, published studies have focused on cranial morphology, particularly osteology and dentition. This study describes the hip and thigh morphology of N. nebulosa and compares it to the domestic cat (F. catus). A number of statistically significant differences were observed between N. nebulosa and F. catus that were primarily associated with muscle attachment surface areas rather than differences in overall morphology. F. catus had proportionally larger attachment areas for Mm. gluteus profundus, tensor fasciae latae, and biceps femoris, while N. nebulosa had larger attachment areas for Mm. gluteus medius, rectus femoris, and semitendinosus. By comparison, surface area analysis of nonfelid species (C. latrans and V. vulpes) showed more differences when compared to felids demonstrating that this analytical technique is useful for differentiating closely-related species from more distant ones. These results suggest that muscle map area analysis may be useful for comparing phylogenetic relationships between and within groups of different species and may also suggest variations in locomotor habits.
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.
The shapes of the articular surfaces of the distal radioulnar joint were analyzed through geometric morphometric techniques in felids and canids. The species analyzed include A. jubatus, N. nebulosa, F. catus, V. vulpes, S. fatalis, P. atrox, and C. dirus. The objective was to demonstrate the supination and pronation capabilities through comparing the differences in the shapes of the articular surfaces. Landmarks were chosen around the facet for radius on distal ulna and facet for ulna on distal radius. The results of the Generalized Procrustes and Principal Components analyses had A. jubatus, a cursorial felid, cluster with the canids V. vulpes, and C. dirus and differ significantly from the felids in the analysis. For the ulna, PC1 accounted for 93.9% and PC2 for 2.2%. For the radius, PC1 made up 90% and PC2 2.1%. The wireframe depictions of the articular surfaces are elongated proximodistally in A. jubatus and the canids. In the felids the articular surfaces are expanded in the anteroposterior direction instead. A. jubatus and canid forearms are locked in the prone position with less rotation available than in the felids. This analysis appears to be related to the differences in the locomotor behaviors of species and may prove to be useful in comparing cursorial and arboreal species.
Smilodon fatalis is the Rancho La Brea saber‐tooth cat with robust extremities and a short tail, and is believed to be an ambush predator. In this study, select pelvic, femoral, and tibial muscle attachment sites were determined for Smilodon fatalis based on osteological muscle scars and comparisons with muscle attachment site maps developed for Neofelis nebulosa (clouded leopard) and Felis catus (domesticated cat). Following careful dissection of several specimens of the cat and clouded leopard, the results showed that a comparison of the muscle attachment sites, proportional muscle weights, and muscle attachment site surface areas were remarkably similar. Comparison of Smilodon muscle scar locations and muscle scar surface areas with those of the cat and clouded leopard showed that all three species were also similar. Given these similarities, we are confident that our estimated recreation of the muscle attachment sites in Smilodon is reasonably accurate. In addition, we found that the attachment sites of the quadriceps femoris muscles in Smilodon had increased levels of rugosity compared to the clouded leopard and cat, supporting the concept that this animal may have been an ambush predator that required more robust muscles to leap at and grapple with prey.Grant Funding SourceNone
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