Hindlimb adaptations in Ourayia and Chipetaia , relatively large‐bodied omomyine primates from the Middle Eocene of Utah

Bibliographic Data

ID8312347
AuthorsRachel H Dunn, Rachel Dunn (0000-0002-5441-8088, Washington University in St. Louis), Julia M Sybalsky, Julia Sybalsky (Washington University in St. Louis), Glenn C Conroy (Washington University in St. Louis), D Tab Rasmussen (Washington University in St. Louis, corresponding author)
Year2006
Volume131
Issue3
Pages303-310
Publication date2006-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.20407
PMID16617428
OpenAlexW1989840186
LanguageEN
Citations received22
References cited40

North American omomyids represent a tremendous Eocene radiation of primates exhibiting a wide range of body sizes and dietary patterns. Despite this adaptive diversity, relatively little is known of the postcranial specializations of the group. Here we describe hindlimb and foot bones of Ourayia uintensis and Chipetaia lamporea that were recovered from the Uinta B member (early Uintan Land Mammal Age), Uinta Formation, Utah. These specimens provide insights into the evolution of postcranial adaptations across different body sizes and dietary guilds within the Eocene primate radiation. Body mass estimates based on talar measurements indicate that Ourayia uintensis and Chipetaia lamporea weighed about 1,500–2,000 g and 500–700 g, respectively. Skeletal elements recovered for Ourayia include the talus, navicular, entocuneiform, first metatarsal, and proximal tibia; bones of Chipetaia include the talus, navicular, entocuneiform, and proximal femur. Both genera had opposable grasping big toes, as indicated by the saddle‐shaped joint between the entocuneiform and first metatarsal. Both taxa were arboreal leapers, as indicated by a consistent assemblage of characters in all represented bones, most notably the somewhat elongated naviculars, the high and distinct trochlear crests of the talus, the posteriorly oriented tibial plateau ( Ourayia ), and the cylindrical head of the femur ( Chipetaia ). The closest resemblances to Ourayia and Chipetaia are found among the Bridger omomyines, Omomys and Hemiacodon . The results of our comparisons suggest that the later, larger, more herbivorous omomyines from Utah retained a skeletal structure characteristic of earlier, smaller North American omomyids. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Biology · Geography · Hindlimb · Primate · Zoology · Anatomy · Animal Behavior and Reproduction · Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior · Neuroscience · Paleontology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

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