Behavioral implications of ontogenetic changes in intrinsic hand and foot proportions in olive baboons ( Papio Anubis )

Bibliographic Data

ID8312883
AuthorsF Druelle (0000-0001-9680-6401, Laboratory for Functional Morphology, Department of Biology University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1 Antwerpen, B‐2610 Belgium, corresponding author), J W Young (0000-0001-5358-9339, Northeast Ohio Medical University), Jesse Young (Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Northeast Ohio Medical University, NEOMED 4209 State Route 44 Rootstown Ohio 44272), Gilles Berillon (0000-0001-7159-3104, Primatology Station of the CNRS, UPS 846, RD 56 Rousset‐sur‐Arc, 13790 France)
Year2018
Volume165
Issue1
Pages65-76
Publication date2018-01-01
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.23331
PMID29076148
OpenAlexW2766198371
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited42

OBJECTIVES: Relatively long digits are considered to enhance grasping performance in primates. We tested whether growth-related changes in intrinsic hand and foot proportions may have behavioral implications for growing animals, by examining whether ontogenetic changes in digital proportions are related to variation in voluntary grasping behaviors in baboons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal morphological and behavioral data were collected on 6 captive olive baboons (Papio anubis) as they aged from 5 to 22 months. The length of digits and metapodials, measured from radiographs, were used to calculate phalangeal indices (i.e., PIs: summed length of non-distal phalanges relative to corresponding metapodial length). We also examined the allometric scaling of digital bones relative to body mass. We observed baboon positional behaviors over a 15-day period following the radiographic sessions, quantifying the frequency of forelimb and hindlimb grasping behaviors. RESULTS: PIs for all digits declined during growth, a result of the differential scaling of metapodials (which scaled to body mass with isometry) versus phalanges (which scaled with negative allometry). The incidence of forelimb and hindlimb grasping behaviors declined with age. Though we found no relationship between forelimb grasping and hand proportions, the incidence of hindlimb grasping was directly correlated with postaxial digit PIs. DISCUSSION: Only changes in the intrinsic proportions of the pedal digits are associated with variation in grasping activity in growing baboons. This finding accords previous biomechanical and neuroanatomical studies showing distinct functional roles for the hands and feet during primate locomotion, and has important implications for reconstructing primate locomotor evolution

Allometry · Baboon · Biology · Forelimb · Hindlimb · Numerical digit · Ontogeny · Papio anubis · Primate · Anatomy · Ecology · Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience · Mathematics · Neuroscience · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub