Shape Variations of Furcula in Different Avian Species

Karaavci, Funda Aksünger and Demiraslan, Yasin and Genç, Betül (2026) Shape Variations of Furcula in Different Avian Species. World's Veterinary Journal. 381 - 390. ISSN 23224568

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Abstract

The furcula is a distinctive bone in avian species formed by the fusion of the left and right clavicles into a single structure. By acting as a spring during flight, the furcula adjusts the distance between the wing and the shoulder joint, contributing significantly to avian flight. The present study aimed to analyze furcular shapes across several bird species and investigate how these differences influence avian taxonomy. A total of 58 furculae collected from wild adult birds found dead or that died during treatment between 2023 and 2024 were examined. Samples consisted of seven crows, eight Eurasian jays, two eagles, one falcon, 19 pigeons, two storks, 10 sparrowhawks, and nine geese. Furculae were dissected and morphologically examined for overall shape, hypocleideum morphology, and the presence of pneumatic foramina. Morphological examination revealed that the furcula was V-shaped in the crow, Eurasian jay, goose, and pigeon, U-shaped in the eagle, falcon, and sparrowhawk, and Y-shaped in the stork. Geometric morphometric analysis was performed with 38 landmarks. Geometric morphometric analysis revealed that shape variation was primarily concentrated at the scapular ends of the furcula and secondarily in the hypocleideum region. Crow and Eurasian jay samples exhibited relatively similar shape patterns, whereas significant differences were detected among species groups in the canonical variate analysis. The current findings demonstrated species-specific variation in furcular morphology and provided valuable information for avian taxonomy and the functional interpretation of flight-related skeletal adaptations. © The Author(s) 2026. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Avian; Furcula; Geometric morphometry; Morphology; Shape
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Divisions:	World's Veterinary Journal (WVJ)
Page Range:	381 - 390
Journal or Publication Title:	World's Veterinary Journal
Journal Index:	Scopus
Volume:	16
Number:	2
Publisher:	Scienceline Publication
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.54203/scil.2026.wvj36
ISSN:	23224568
Depositing User:	Dr. Alireza Sadeghi
URI:	https://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/1714

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