2016 Volume 67 Issue 5 Pages 167-181
The 8th Utanobori specimens described previously are re-described, because of misidentification of the side and direction of the patella and osteologically insufficient description and discussion of the humerus. The right humerus (OME-U-0170) is more than 525 mm in length, and the left patella (OME-U-0171) is 112 mm in maximum thickness. The body length of an adult male Desmostylus is estimated at 387 cm and the weight at about 3.5 t from the largest humerus. The patella about 50 percent thicker than that of an Asiatic elephant suggests a larger moment arm of the knee extension, which proves that Desmostylus had a lateral-type limb posture.
In the appendix, the cranial morphology of the 1st Utanobori specimen is reconsidered based on addition of specimens for comparison.
