Thoracic and Coracoid Arteries In Two Families of Birds, Columbidae and Hirundinidae

BY

MARION ANNE JENKINSON

University of Kansas
Lawrence
1964

University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History

Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,
Theodore H. Eaton, Jr.

Volume 12, No. 13, pp. 553-573, 7 figs.
Published March 2, 1964

University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

PRINTED BY THE STATE PRINTER
TOPEKA, KANSAS
1964

Thoracic and Coracoid Arteries In Two Families of Birds, Columbidae and Hirundinidae

BY

MARION ANNE JENKINSON

CONTENTS

PAGE

Introduction 555

Methods and Materials 556

Myology and Angiology: Hirundinidae 557
Myology 557
Angiology 558

Myology and Angiology: Columbidae 560
Myology 560
Angiology 560

Summary of Arterial Arrangement 562

Discussion and Conclusions 562
Individual Variation 562
Intrafamilial Differences 563
Interfamilial Differences 565

Summary 567

Literature Cited 573

INTRODUCTION

Most descriptions of the circulatory system of birds, largely the work of Glenny, have dealt with arteries of the neck and thorax in a wide variety of species. As a result of his work, Glenny offered several hypotheses concerning the phylogenetic, hence taxonomic, significance of differences in some of these vessels. He also described six types of thoracic arterial arrangements and stated that these categories might represent various levels of evolution (Glenny, 1955:543-544).

The families Columbidae (pigeons) and Hirundinidae (swallows) have two nearly extreme arterial types described by Glenny, and are universally acknowledged as monophyletic. Differences within the families, therefore, can be considered as valid intrafamilial differences. I have investigated the thoracic and coracoid arteries and their branches in members of these two families to determine the degree of individual variability of the vessels, and the possible causes of interspecific and intrafamilial differences.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

All specimens studied are in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. They were preserved in alcohol and their blood vessels were not injected. Dissections were made with the aid of a binocular microscope at magnifications of 10× and 20×.

Following is a list of the species studied, the number of individuals of each species dissected, and the catalogue numbers of the specimens. The nomenclature and classification are those of the American Ornithologists' Union's Check-List of North American Birds, fifth edition (1957).

The following descriptions are of Progne subis and Scardafella inca. Differences in the vascular system in other members of the families represented by P. subis and S. inca are mentioned at the appropriate places. The muscles briefly described for each of these two species are those that are supplied by the thoracic or coracoid arteries or by branches of the same, and muscles that, by their origin, location, or insertion, seem to affect the course or origin of one of these arteries.

The following sources have been particularly useful for the terminology of muscles and of skeletal features: Ashley