Metacarpal trabecular architecture variation in the chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes )

Evidence for locomotion and tool‐use

Bibliographic Data

ID8317859
AuthorsRichard A Lazenby (University of Northern British Columbia, corresponding author), Matthew M Skinner (0000-0001-8321-3543, Max Planck Society), Jean-Jacques Hublin (0000-0001-6283-8114, Max Planck Society), Jean‐jacques Hublin, Christophe Boesch (0000-0001-9538-7858, Max Planck Society)
Year2011
Volume144
Issue2
Pages215-225
Publication date2011-02-01
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.21390
PMID20872805
OpenAlexW2036142985
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited62

Trabecular architecture was assessed by 3D micro‐computed tomography from spherical volumes of interest located within the head and base of metacarpals (MC) 1, 2, and 5 from n = 19 adult common chimpanzees. Two subspecies, West African Pan troglodytes verus from the Taï Forest, Côte d'Ivoire ( n = 12) and Central African P. t. troglodytes from Cameroon ( n = 7), were studied. For the combined sample, the metacarpal head is distinguished by greater bone volume fraction across all metacarpals, though the MC 1 is distinctive in having thicker, more plate‐like trabeculae. The architecture in the MC 2 and MC 5 can be related to strains associated with terrestrial knuckle‐walking. In particular, the relatively robust MC 5 head architecture may result from functional loading incurred during braking and use of a palm‐in hand posture. Examining differences between samples, we found that the Cameroon chimpanzees possess a more robust architecture across all metacarpals in the form of greater bone volume fraction, higher connectivity, and somewhat more plate‐like structure. These differences are not explicable in terms of population distinctions in body size or daily travel distance, but possibly reflect a combination of more terrestrial knuckle‐walking in the Cameroon sample and more diverse hand postures and precision handling required of nut‐cracking in West African chimpanzees. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Biology · Bipedalism · Geography · Head (geology) · Subspecies · Troglodytes · Zoology · Anatomy · Animal Behavior and Reproduction · Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior · Paleontology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

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