Radiographic Comparison of the Lateral and Medial Digital Bones and Claw Measurements in Wild Ruminants

The digits of 11 chamoises (Rupicapra rupicapra), 11 European bisons (Bison bonasus), 11 fallow deers (Dama dama) and 11 Eurasian elks (Alces alces) were radiographed to determine possible differences in the bones of the lateral and medial digits. The length and width of the digits, the course and axis of the metacarpal/metatarsal bones, and three dimensions of the claws were measured. Palmarodorsal or plantarodorsal radiographic views of the digits were taken at post mortem in all the animals. The views were stored digitally, and measurements were made using a computer software program (Metron PX™). Direct claw measurements were made using calipers. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant.
The bones of the lateral digits were generally longer than the corresponding bones of the medial digits. This was evident from the comparison of the means of the various bones as well as from the distribution of the frequencies with which the lateral phalangeal bones were longer than the corresponding medial bones. In the forelimb, 73 to 95 % of the lateral phalangeal bones were longer than the medial counterparts and in the hind limb, 90 to 100 % of the lateral phalangeal bones were longer. The entire length of the lateral digits, which was calculated ...