Descriptive and comparative myology of the hindlimb of the Babirusa (Babyrousa babyroussa L. 1758)

Summary A description is given of the anatomy of the muscles of the hindlimb of the babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa L. 1758). Four adult animals, two males and two females were dissected and the results compared with previously published information. Significant differences were found between the accounts and these were analysed within the contexts of material availability and advances in anatomical nomenclature. Comparisons made with published descriptions of the pig (Sus scrofa) showed that the muscular anatomies of the two species are very similar. Those differences which are apparent, despite intra‐species variation in structure, include a thoracic vertebral origin for the M. psoas minor in babirusa but not pig, a smaller gluteal tongue to the M. gluteus medius in the babirusa, a failure of the Mm. gluteus medius to meet on the dorsal mid‐line in the babirusa unlike the case in the pig, the two heads of the M. gluteus accessorius are of unequal size in the babirusa but not in the pig, the vertebral head of the M. obturatorius externus is absent in the babirusa and present in the pig.