Dergiler / Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences / 2011 / Cilt: 35 - Sayı: 4

Polydactyly in Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus)

Sayfa
277–280
DOI
—

Özet

Seven Arctic fox puppies were found to have an extra claw (resembling a canine dewclaw) on their thoracic limb. These individuals came from 2 litters born of 2 different females. The "dewclaw" comprised a claw loosely connected with the limb by soft tissue, and it had the third phalanx (PIII) and a vestigial phalanx. Our results show that the presence of an extra claw on one or both hands in some Arctic fox puppies may, but does not have to, be a dominant trait. The differences between the 2 analyzed litters support the hypothesis that the mode of inheritance of the investigated trait in Arctic foxes could be more complex.

Abstract

Seven Arctic fox puppies were found to have an extra claw (resembling a canine dewclaw) on their thoracic limb. These individuals came from 2 litters born of 2 different females. The "dewclaw" comprised a claw loosely connected with the limb by soft tissue, and it had the third phalanx (PIII) and a vestigial phalanx. Our results show that the presence of an extra claw on one or both hands in some Arctic fox puppies may, but does not have to, be a dominant trait. The differences between the 2 analyzed litters support the hypothesis that the mode of inheritance of the investigated trait in Arctic foxes could be more complex.

Anahtar kelimeler: Key words: Polydactyly, thoracic limb, Vulpes lagopus