Fig. 1.

Asian elephant foot specimens. The forefoot (A), which supports the majority of the elephant's weight, has a more rounded profile and larger circumference compared to the more mediolaterally compressed hindfoot (B). The front of each foot is oriented toward the bottom of the figure. Colored pins designate the slices examined histologically. Forefoot (A): blue pin = slice 1, medial aspect of the 2nd digit; orange pin = slice 2, lateral aspect of the 2nd digit; green pin = slice 3, through and beneath the 3rd digit; and red pin = slice 4, through and beneath the 4th digit. Hindfoot (B): orange pin = slice 5, through and beneath the 2nd digit; blue pin = slice 6, through and beneath the 3rd digit; red pin = slice 7, through and beneath the 4th digit; and green pin = slice 8, between the 4th and 5th digits.