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ObjectivesThe primate foot has been extensively investigated because of its role in weight‐bearing; however, the calcaneus has been relatively understudied. Here we examine entire gorilla calcaneal external shape to understand its relationship with locomotor behavior.Materials and methodsCalcanei ofGorilla gorilla gorilla(n= 43),Gorilla beringei graueri(n= 20), andGorilla beringei beringei(n= 15) were surface or micro‐CT scanned. External shape was analyzed through a three‐dimensional geometric morphometric sliding semilandmark analysis. Semilandmarks were slid relative to an updated Procrustes average in order to minimize the bending energy of the thin plate spline interpolation function. Shape variation was summarized using principal components analysis of shape coordinates. Procrustes distances between taxa averages were calculated and resampling statistics run to test pairwise differences. Linear measures were collected and regressed against estimated body mass.ResultsAll three taxa exhibit statistically different morphologies (p< .001 for pairwise comparisons).G. g. gorillademonstrates an anteroposteriorly elongated calcaneus with a deeper cuboid pivot region and mediolaterally flatter posterior talar facet.G. b. beringeipossesses the flattest cuboid and most medially‐angled posterior talar facets.G. b. graueridemonstrates intermediate articular facet morphology, a medially‐angled tuberosity, and an elongated peroneal trochlea.DiscussionArticular facet differences separate gorillas along a locomotor gradient.G. g. gorillais adapted for arboreality with greater joint mobility, whileG. b. beringeiis adapted for more stereotypical loads associated with terrestriality.G. b. graueri'sunique posterolateral morphology may be due to a secondary transition to greater arboreality from a more terrestrial ancestor.

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