Pesq. Vet. Bras. 36(6):539-544, junho 2016 Movement anatomy of the gluteal region and thigh of the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Myrmecophagidae: Pilosa)1 Priscilla Rosa Queiroz Ribeiro2*, André Luiz Quagliatto Santos2, Lucas de Assis Ribeiro2, Tharlianne Alici Martins de Souza2, Daniela Cristina Silva Borges2, Rogério Rodrigues de Souza2 and Saulo Gonçalves Pereira2 ABSTRACT.- Ribeiro P.R.Q., Santos A.L.Q., Ribeiro L.A., Souza T.A.M., Borges D.C.S., Souza R.R. & Pereira S.G. Movement anatomy of the gluteal region and thigh of the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Myrmecophagidae: Pilosa). Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36(6):539-5442016. Laboratory for Teaching and Research on Wild Animals (LAPAS), Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] FederalLocomotion University reveals of Uberlândia, the displacement Rua Piauí and s/n, behavior Umuarama, manner Uberlândia, of the species MG in38405-317, their dai- ly needs. According to different needs of the several species, different locomotor patterns are adopted. The shapes and attachment points of muscles are important determinants of the movements performed and consequently, the locomotion and motion patterns of living beings. It was aimed to associate anatomical, kinesiology and biomechanics aspects of the gluteal region and thigh of the giant anteater to its moving characteristics and locomotor habits. It was used three specimens of Myrmecophaga tridactyla, settled in formaldehyde - patternsaqueous solutionof movement at 10% and and locomotion subsequently, of animals, dissected were using analyzed usual andtechniques discussed in gross in light ana of literature.tomy. The morphologicalAll muscles of characteristicsthe gluteal region of the and gluteal thigh regionof giant and anteater thigh thatshow influence parallel thear- joint which the interpotent type biolever act. These morphological characteristics indicate rangement of the muscular fibers, being flat or fusiform. These muscles are formed in the a greater predominance of amplitude and movement speed at the expense of strength. On andthe othershows hand, the need features of future such realization as osteometric of more index detailed and the studies observation in this subject. of giant anteater motion indicate the opposite, what reflects this animal lack of expertise in locomotor habits INDEX TERMS: Locomotion, kinesiology, biomechanics, giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Pilosa. RESUMO.- [Anatomia do movimento da região glútea e e movimentação dos seres vivos. Objetivou-se associar as- coxa de Myrmecophaga tridactyla tamanduá-bandeira pectos anatômicos, cinesiológicos e biomecânicos da região (Myrmecophagidae: pilosa).] A locomoção revela o modo de deslocamento e comportamento das espécies nas suas de movimentação e hábitos locomotores. Utilizaram-se três necessidades diárias. De acordo com as diferentes neces- espécimesglútea e coxa de doMyrmecophaga tamanduá bandeira tridactyla às suas características sidades das diversas espécies, diferentes padrões loco- - dos usando as técnicas usuais em anatomia, fixados macroscópica. em solução músculos são importantes determinantes dos movimentos aquosa de formaldeído a 10% e posteriormente, disseca realizadosmotores são e, adotados.por conseguinte, As formas dos e padrões pontos dede fixaçãolocomoção dos As características morfológicas da região glútea e coxa que influenciam os padrões de movimento e locomoção dos animais foram analisadas e discutidas à luz da literatura. 1 - Todos os músculos da região glútea e coxa do tamanduá 2 Received on December 8, 2015. culares, sendo planos ou fusiformes. Esses músculos for- Laboratory for Teaching and Research on Wild Animals (LAPAS), Fed- bandeira apresentam disposição paralela das fibras mus Accepted for publication on March 17, 2016. - mam nas articulações sobre as quais agem bioalavancas *Correspondingeral University ofauthor: Uberlândia [email protected] (UFU), Rua Piauí, s/n, Umuarama, Uber indicam maior predominância de amplitude e velocidade lândia, MG 38405-317, Brazil. Master’s research supported by FAPEMIG. do tipo interpotente. Essas características morfológicas 539 Priscilla Rosa Queiroz Ribeiro et al. 540 de movimento em detrimento da força. Por outro lado, ca- performance of biological roles, such as obtaining food, de- da movimentação do tamanduá bandeira indicam o oposto, fenseand, consequently, and locomotion. it reflects on the functionality on the racterísticas como os índices osteométricos e a observação The shapes and attachment points of the muscles in the aos hábitos locomotores e sinaliza a necessidade da reali- bones are important determinants of movements perfor- zaçãoo que refletefutura dea falta estudos de especialização mais detalhados desse a esse animal respeito. quanto med in the different joints and therefore are determinants TERMOS DE INDEXAÇÃO: Locomoção, cinesiologia, biomecânica, of the locomotion and motion patterns of living beings. So, tamanduá-bandeira, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Pilosa. knowing motion anatomy aspects, as well as kinesiology INTRODUCTION shape and arrangement, points of muscles origin and in- sertion,and basic biolever biomechanics types, strength aspects, armssuch andas muscular resistance fibers and The giant anteater belongs to Myrmecophagidae family that mechanical advantage of body segments, becomes crucial has three subspecies, and they are found in southeastern to understanding the animal movement. This article aimed to associate the anatomical, kinesiology and biomechanics silent and peaceful nature, in the wild, they are always alo- aspects of the gluteal region and thigh of giant anteater to Mexico, Central and South America (Nowak 1999). Solitary, its moving characteristics and locomotor habits. captivity they accept living together. Giant anteaters have ne, except in mating season or mother offspring, while in anatomical, behavioral and physiological adaptations con- MATERIALS AND METHODS cerned to feeding, which is consisted of ants, termites and It was used three male adult specimens of their eggs, and the larvae of beetles. They have long skull, Myrmecophaga tridac- tyla - tube like and long muzzle, relatively small eyes and ears, a lections of Laboratory for Teaching and Research on Wild Animals very long portable tongue, developed salivary glands and (LAPAS), Linnaeus from (1758) Federal that University belong to of the Uberlândia didactic and (UFU) scientific and from col the Laboratory of Anatomy of Federal University of Goiás Campus Specie of the Pilosa order, the giant anteater is listed as Catalão (UFG). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee they have no teeth (Medri 2003). - national Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Re- a potentially vulnerableMyrmecophaga animal to extinction tridactyla by the Inter on AnimalThe animals use of used UFU were(Protocol settled 039/11) in formaldehyde and it is in aqueous accordance so- threat is mainly due to destruction of habitats in order to with Normative Instruction 03/2015 of IBAMA. - sources (IUCN 2011). extinction taining the same concentration of solution. Their preparation for analysislution at followed10% and the then anatomical preserved conventional immersed in techniques opaque vats propo con- giveLocomotion place to pastures reveals and the monocultures, displacement fires,and poachingbehavior The basic kinesiology and biomechanics aspects observed mannerand roadkill of the (Takami species et in al their 1998). daily needs such as feeding, weresed by the Rodrigues form and (2005). fascicular arrangement of the muscles of glute- al region and thigh, and the set up biolever systems in the hip and to the different needs of the several species, different loco- - mating and escape (Densmore 1983). This way, according ment and locomotion patterns of the animals were analyzed and - discussedknee joints. in The accordance influences with of thethese proposals characteristics of Tortora in the & Grabomove- motor patterns are adopted. According to Oliveira (2001) structuralthe Myrmecophagidae features related do not to varioushave expertise types of about adaptation, the lo wski (2010) for these characteristics. suchcomotor as terrestrial, habit. Instead, climbing they and show digging. a mix Theof anatomical giant anteater and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The giant anteater gluteal region consists of these muscles, nodes of the hands joints on the ground. When it feels in - walks with clenched fists and with the lateral portion and fundus, m. gemelli, m. quadrates femoral and m. obturator - m. gluteus superficiallis, m. gluteus medius, m. gluteus pro werfuldanger, claws. its natural reaction is to flee, gallopping somewhat tensor fasciae latae, m. biceps femoris, m. semitendinosus, disorderly, fighting only if forced, when then it uses its po- m.internus semimembranosus, (Table 1 and Figurem. abductor 1). The cruris thigh caudalis, muscles m.are gra m.- tor system are responsible for the locomotion diversity ob- cillis, m. pectineus, m. quadriceps femoris, mm. brevis lon- Toledo (1998) states that the variations of the locomo- gus and magnus adductors and m. sartorius (Table 2 and logical changes are related to the limbs mechanical ability Figure 2). served in modern mammals. For Oliveira (2001) morpho Table 1. Attachment points of the gluteal region muscles of giant anteater Muscle Origin Insertion M. Gluteus medius Gluteal surface of ilium and iliac crest. Greater trochanter of the femur. M. Gluteus profundussuperficiallis IliumLateral body. sacral crest, crest.