Aging-related changes in the skulls of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Bibliographic Data

ID6135510
AuthorsNguyen Van Minh (0000-0001-5765-226X, Evolutionary Morphology Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama), Toshio Mouri (Evolutionary Morphology Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama), Yuzuru Hamada (Evolutionary Morphology Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama)
Year2015
Volume123
Issue2
Pages107-119
Publication date2015-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropological Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0918-7960 • E-ISSN: 1348-8570
PublisherAnthropological Society of Nippon (PUBLISHER • JP)
DOI10.1537/ase.150305
OpenAlexW1925709251
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited46

We investigated aging-related changes in the skulls of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). A total of 145 (70 males, 75 females) skulls from macaques aged 7.0–26.9 years (males) and 7.0–30.7 years (females) were measured for 22 craniometric items. Some skull dimensions increased from young adulthood (7.0 years) to the peak at 13.3–19.0 years in males and at 19.7–22.6 years in females. Some dimensions remained at their peak value right through into very old age whereas others continued increasing during this stage of life. Continued increase of cranial size in adulthood has been also observed in humans, but the magnitude of change was greater in macaques. Facial and mandibular dimensions showed larger and more significant increases than neurocranial dimensions in macaques, as in humans, including facial height, bizygomatic breadth, mandibular body height, and ramus breadth in both sexes. Intertemporal distance and biorbital breadths after 16.0 years of age decreased significantly in males, and cranial and posterior basicranial lengths increased only in males. We suggest that these craniometric changes are associated with the development of the insertion area onto which muscles attach (by accumulation of physical stress). The face and mandible are greatly influenced by tooth loss and/or dental disorders, both of which are evident in humans. In the present study large changes were also found in skulls that had lost several teeth

Biology · Mandible (arthropod mouthpart · Skull · Zoology · Memory and Neural Mechanisms · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · Anatomy

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