Tomańska Anna, Stawinoga Martyna, Gębarowski Tomasz, Janeczek Maciej, Klećkowska-Nawrot Joanna, Goździewska-Harłajczuk Karolina, Dobrzyński Maciej
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska St. 1, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland.
Veterinary Biotechnology Student Science Club "Refectio", Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska St. 1, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Dec 26;15(1):35. doi: 10.3390/ani15010035.
The Komodo dragon () is the largest extant lizard and is classified as an endangered species. Despite its rarity, anatomical studies on this species remain limited, hindering a comprehensive understanding of its biology and evolutionary traits. This research presents a detailed anatomical and histological examination of the pelvic limb of a female Komodo dragon, providing valuable insights into the musculoskeletal system of this species. A series of measurements and observations were made on the bones of the pelvic limb, including the femur, tibia, fibula, and pes, all of which are essential for supporting the animal's large body size and facilitating its predatory behavior. This study also highlights the diverse muscle architecture, where large muscle masses are associated with the femoral retractors and ankle plantarflexors. Histological analysis of the muscle fibers revealed significant variability in fiber diameters, supporting the functional adaptation of the Komodo dragon's limbs for high-speed ambush predation. This research provides important morphological data that could inform clinical practices, including orthopedic procedures and physiotherapy for Komodo dragons in zoological settings. Additionally, these findings shed light on the evolutionary patterns inherited from the species' ancestors, which contributed to the development of its distinctive biological adaptations.
科莫多巨蜥（Varanus komodoensis）是现存最大的蜥蜴，被列为濒危物种。尽管其稀有性，但对该物种的解剖学研究仍然有限，这阻碍了对其生物学和进化特征的全面理解。本研究对一只雌性科莫多巨蜥的骨盆肢体进行了详细的解剖学和组织学检查，为该物种的肌肉骨骼系统提供了有价值的见解。对骨盆肢体的骨骼进行了一系列测量和观察，包括股骨、胫骨、腓骨和足部，所有这些对于支撑动物的庞大体型和促进其捕食行为都至关重要。本研究还突出了多样的肌肉结构，其中大块肌肉群与股内收肌和踝关节跖屈肌相关。对肌肉纤维的组织学分析显示纤维直径存在显著差异，这支持了科莫多巨蜥肢体为高速伏击捕食而进行的功能适应。这项研究提供了重要的形态学数据，可为临床实践提供参考，包括动物园环境中科莫多巨蜥的骨科手术和物理治疗。此外，这些发现揭示了从该物种祖先继承的进化模式，这些模式促成了其独特生物学适应性的发展。
