Scaling of growth and life history traits relative to body size, brain size, and metabolic rate in Lorises and Galagos (Lorisidae, primates)

Bibliographic Data

ID8316486
AuthorsD Tab Rasmussen (Duke University, corresponding author), Michel Izard (Duke University), M Kay Izard
Year1988
Volume75
Issue3
Pages357-367
Publication date1988-03-01
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.1330750307
PMID3364547
OpenAlexW2112378607
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited41

A broad range of variation in body size, brain size, and metabolic rate occurs within the primate family Lorisidae, thus providing an opportunity to examine the relationship of these three parameters to variation in growth and life history traits. Data on adult body weight, gestation length, lactation length, age at first estrus, litter size, and growth parameters were collected from a captive colony of four lorisid species, Loris tardigradus, Nycticebus coucang, Galago crassicaudatus , and G. senegalensis. The data presented here constitute the most complete life history information available for these poorly understood prosimian species. Correlation and allometric analyses were performed to determine the relationships between variables. Among the lorisids studied, adult body weight, adult cranial capacity, and relative cranial capacity did not predict variation in life history traits. Adult basal metabolic rate predicted most of the variability in gestation length, lactation length, and growth parameters. Lorisines differ from similarly sized galagines in having lower basal metabolic rates, slower growth rates, slower developmental rates, and smaller litter sizes, resulting in reduced reproductive potential. This may be a consequence of lorisine adaptation to a diet of toxic insects. Metabolic rate and diet may be among the most important parameters to examine in any study of life history evolution

Allometry · Basal metabolic rate · Biology · Brain size · Growth rate · Juvenile · Lemur · Life history · Life history theory · Primate · Prosimian · Reproduction · Zoology · Animal Behavior and Reproduction · Ecology · Endocrinology · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation