Morphological character of the shoulder and leg skeleton in Przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii).

The research article explores the differences in skeletal structure between Przewalski’s horse and domestic horses with a focus on the shoulder and leg bones. The findings suggest that these differences could impact movement and physical characteristics such as center of gravity and stride length.

Comparative Study of Equine Skeletal Structures

• The study compares the morphological features of the shoulder and leg skeletons of two horse species – the Przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii) and the domestic horse (E. caballus).
• The researchers conducted detailed observations of the skeletal structures, focusing on the differences between the two species.
• The findings showed notable variations in the structure of the scapula, or shoulder blade, of the two species.

Scapula Morphology and Muscle Attachment

• The caudal border, or rear edge, of the scapula in Przewalski’s horse was found to be more curved towards the tail (caudal direction) than that of the domestic horse.
• In the domestic horse, the rear edge of the scapula is sharp and shaped by the outer muscular line (Linea muscularis) moving to the edge.
• In contrast, in Przewalski’s horse, this border is rounded because the outer muscular line stays alongside the border, rather than moving to it.
• The researchers proposed that this morphological disparity between the shoulder blades of the two species might cause variations in shoulder movement due to the different positions of the long head of the triceps muscle attachment (Caput longum musculi tricipitis).

Leg Skeleton and Body Posture

• The research also analyzed the leg skeleton of both horse species, using skeletal measurements and ratios.
• The leg bones of Przewalski’s horse were found to be shorter and thicker compared to those of the domestic horse.
• The research results suggest that the center of gravity in Przewalski’s horse is positioned lower, and these horses have a shorter stride than domestic horses – characteristics that may be attributed to their different leg bone structure.