Thoracic girdle columbiformes

O. Mel'nyk

According to our morpho-functional researches on thoracic girdle of Columbiformes it was established that form and relief of skeletal elements, as with their appearance, stated to be depended on the action of muscles. These muscles act antigravitationally and provide both pose holding and movement in terrestrial gravitational field. The development stage of structural elements in shoulder girdle may be connected with adaptation to rapid and long-carrying flying in investigated Pallas sand grouse and pigeon, in rapid short-carrying flying in ring dove and in non flying Raphus solitarius. Broad and relatively thick coracoid is characteristic of Columbiformes capable of rapid and long-carrying flying. Narrow in medial part and broadened in proximal and distal one-third of bone coracoid is characteristic of rapid short-carrying flying Columbiformes.

Coracoid with negligible broadening in distal one-third of bone, and equal indexes of width and thickness is characteristic of non flying Columbiformes. Clavicle is well developed in flying Columbiformes, whereas in nonflying Columbiformes practically degenerated. Development of scapula also may be concerned with possibility of flying

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