Folia Historico-Naturalia Musei Matraensis - A Mátra Múzeum Természetrajzi Közleményei 21. (1996)

Some remarks on the phalanges of the foot It is striking that the length of certain phalanges are more or less equal in some species, while others are very different. These different phalanges then cause a significant difference in the length of the toes between the species. The length differences between the phalanges are repeated consequently in every toe, but different phalanges are responsible for these differences. As regards to the three bigger species (Hobby, Merlin and Kestrel) in every toe there is always a phalanx that is equal in length, one is significantly different (the lengths not or only slightly overlap) and one (or two) where the length of the phalanx of the species follows each other with considerable overlap. The phalanges that are more or less equal in the different species are the following: ph. 1 dig. 1, ph. 2 dig. 2, ph. 3 dig. 3, ph. 4 dig. 4 The phalanges that are most different are the following: ph. 2 dig. 3, ph. 3 dig. 4 The phalanges that are less different: ph. 1 dig. 2, ph. 1 dig. 3, ph. 1 dig. 4 (ph. 2 dig. 4) We should notice that the similarly sized phalanges are located at the end of the toes (next to the talons), the greatest difference is found among the phalanges located in the middle, and those located at the front of the toes are the ones that are different but overlapping in size. SUMMARY In my study I have completed the comparative osteomorphological study of smaller European Falcons, namely the Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Merlin (Falco columbarius), Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae), Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) and the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni). My main aim was to find reliable morphological characteristics for the differentiation and identification of these species, and furthermore through the measuring of a greater material of bones to get a statistically évaluable data set. The results can be used for the identification of both fossil (JANOSSY, 1977) and recent (identification of remnants of bird diet). They allow the revision of fossil Falco material, and form the basis of functional morphological studies and taxonomic research. The material examined was altogether 187 complete and incomplete skeletons of six species, which was gathered from nine Hungarian and European museums, research institutes and from a private collection. This study deals with all the important bones except the ribs, the backbones and some minute bones (os carpi ulnare, os carpi radiale, patella), even the phalanges are included. 3 to 10 measurements were taken on every bones, from which the minimum and maximum values, averages, variances, sum of squares were calculated. The anatomical names follow the nomenclature of BAUMEL (1979), whose work is one of the most recent and detailed of this kind of studies. Where I couldn't find the name of the discussed anatomical part in this work I followed BALLMANN (1969), LANGER (1980), OTTO (1981) or SCHMIDT-BURGER (1982), these names are always indicated with the describer. For the indications of directions there are controversial names in the literature. I followed BAUMEL (1979) therefore the directions in the discussion of the bones of the wing refer to an open wing position, the leg is treated as it would hang (not in a backwards stretched) position. 66