Mogera tibialis subsp. posticus

WHIDDEN, HOWARD P., 2000, Comparative Myology of Moles and the Phylogeny of the Talpidae (Mammalia, Lipotyphla), American Museum Novitates 3294, pp. 1-53 : 40-41

M. tibialis posticus ( fig. 18 )

ORIGIN: From the medial surface of the posterior process of the fibula.

INSERTION: Via a tendon onto the posteromedial surface of the centrale.

REMARKS: This muscle has the same general form in Condylura , Parascalops , Scalopus , Scapanus , and Urotrichus . Neurotrichus , Scaptonyx , and Uropsilus are similar except that the insertion is on tarsale I. In Desmana and Galemys , this muscle originates as described above, but the muscle is quite small, and I could not trace its tendon. Dobson (1882–1890) stated that in these two genera the tendon of this muscle joins the tendon of M. flexor digitorum tibialis. M. tibialis posticus is apparently absent in Talpa . Reed (1951) reported that this muscle inserts on tarsale I in occasional specimens of Scapanus , so there may be variation in the insertion of this muscle.

M. flexor digitorum fibularis ( figs. 17 and 18 )

ORIGIN: A lateral head from the posterior surface of the posterior process and shaft of the fibula, and a medial head from the posterior and medial surfaces of the proximal tibia, the interosseus membrane, and the surfaces of the tibia and fibula adjacent to the interosseus membrane. These heads are fused for much of their length, and they form a single tendon.

INSERTION: Via a massive tendon that wraps around the medial side of the calcaneus and forms five branches that extend out the digits and attach to the ventral surfaces of the distal phalanges.

REMARKS: This muscle has the same general form in Condylura , Desmana , Galemys , Parascalops , Scalopus , Scapanus , Talpa , and Uropsilus . In Neurotrichus , Scaptonyx , and Urotrichus , the origin and insertion are similar, but the muscular heads are not fused, and the tendons remain separate until the distal end of the shank.

Flexor Group of the Pes

Figures

Fig. 18. Medial view of lower leg muscles of Parascalops. A, Superficial muscles; B, deeper muscles.

Fig. 17. Lateral view of lower leg muscles of Parascalops. A, Superficial muscles; B, deeper muscles.