author(s)
Sridevi P, Rajalakshmi K and SivaKumar M

abstract
The present study was conducted on the comparative gross anatomical studies on femur, tibiotarsus, fibula and tarsometatarsus of great Indian horned owl, flamingo and crow. The proximal extremity of femur had a distinct hemispherical head in the three species. Fovea capitis was deeper in owl compared to that of crow and absent in flamingo. The trochanter major projected a little above the level of the head in flamingo followed by crow and great Indian horned owl. In great Indian horned owl and crow, the distal extremity of lateral condyle were divided into two ridges. The tibiotarsus was the largest of the leg bones in owl and crow, whereas in flamingo tibiotarsus and tarso metatasrsus were almost equal in length. The cranial cnemial crest was large, thick, sharp and prominent in flamingo and crow, while in great Indian horned owl it was short and stumpy. Another cnemial crest was observed on caudolateral aspect in all species. The fibula extended upto to the middle in flamingo and crow, while in great Indian horned owl it was extended up to the distal till the shaft. The proximal extremity of the tarsometarsus presented hypotarsus. The hypotarsus showed variation among the different species under present study.