Functional implications of felid forelimb anatomy

Abstract

The elbow and wrist anatomy of 17 felid species were studied and compared with that of other representative mammaliam carnivores. Based on the shape and position of the olecranon fossa, it was determined that for felids the forelimb cannot travel in a "pendulum-like" motion during locomotion, but must travel through an arch away from the parasagittal plane of the body. For the anterior limb, the degree of deviation from the parasagittal plane was correlated with habitat preference. In this regard, those felids that are exclusive forest dwellers (found exclusively in high, densely structured habitats) had the greatest angle of inclination of the olecranon fossa. In addition, these, species had a large lateral olecranon tuberosity for the attachment of the lateral head of the triceps muscle. For those felids that inhabit more open terrain (low-structured habitat), the olecranon fossa was less inclined, the medical olecranon tuberosity relatively large, and the medial head of the triceps was significantly heavier than those of the forest felids. Both the wrist and elbow joints exhibited a large degree of mobility which was reflective of the claw-equipped forelimb being used as a hunting weapon.