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Functional morphology of the hallucal metatarsal with implications for inferring grasping ability in extinct primates.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Goodenberger, KE; Boyer, DM; Orr, CM; Jacobs, RL; Femiani, JC; Patel, BA
Published in: American journal of physical anthropology
March 2015

Primate evolutionary morphologists have argued that selection for life in a fine branch niche resulted in grasping specializations that are reflected in the hallucal metatarsal (Mt1) morphology of extant "prosimians", while a transition to use of relatively larger, horizontal substrates explains the apparent loss of such characters in anthropoids. Accordingly, these morphological characters-Mt1 torsion, peroneal process length and thickness, and physiological abduction angle-have been used to reconstruct grasping ability and locomotor mode in the earliest fossil primates. Although these characters are prominently featured in debates on the origin and subsequent radiation of Primates, questions remain about their functional significance. This study examines the relationship between these morphological characters of the Mt1 and a novel metric of pedal grasping ability for a large number of extant taxa in a phylogenetic framework. Results indicate greater Mt1 torsion in taxa that engage in hallucal grasping and in those that utilize relatively small substrates more frequently. This study provides evidence that Carpolestes simpsoni has a torsion value more similar to grasping primates than to any scandentian. The results also show that taxa that habitually grasp vertical substrates are distinguished from other taxa in having relatively longer peroneal processes. Furthermore, a longer peroneal process is also correlated with calcaneal elongation, a metric previously found to reflect leaping proclivity. A more refined understanding of the functional associations between Mt1 morphology and behavior in extant primates enhances the potential for using these morphological characters to comprehend primate (locomotor) evolution.

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Published In

American journal of physical anthropology

DOI

EISSN

1096-8644

ISSN

0002-9483

Publication Date

March 2015

Volume

156

Issue

3

Start / End Page

327 / 348

Related Subject Headings

  • Trees
  • Primates
  • Metatarsal Bones
  • Locomotion
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • History, Ancient
  • Hand Strength
  • Hallux
  • Anthropology, Physical
  • Anthropology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Goodenberger, K. E., Boyer, D. M., Orr, C. M., Jacobs, R. L., Femiani, J. C., & Patel, B. A. (2015). Functional morphology of the hallucal metatarsal with implications for inferring grasping ability in extinct primates. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 156(3), 327–348. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22652
Goodenberger, Katherine E., Doug M. Boyer, Caley M. Orr, Rachel L. Jacobs, John C. Femiani, and Biren A. Patel. “Functional morphology of the hallucal metatarsal with implications for inferring grasping ability in extinct primates.American Journal of Physical Anthropology 156, no. 3 (March 2015): 327–48. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22652.
Goodenberger KE, Boyer DM, Orr CM, Jacobs RL, Femiani JC, Patel BA. Functional morphology of the hallucal metatarsal with implications for inferring grasping ability in extinct primates. American journal of physical anthropology. 2015 Mar;156(3):327–48.
Goodenberger, Katherine E., et al. “Functional morphology of the hallucal metatarsal with implications for inferring grasping ability in extinct primates.American Journal of Physical Anthropology, vol. 156, no. 3, Mar. 2015, pp. 327–48. Epmc, doi:10.1002/ajpa.22652.
Goodenberger KE, Boyer DM, Orr CM, Jacobs RL, Femiani JC, Patel BA. Functional morphology of the hallucal metatarsal with implications for inferring grasping ability in extinct primates. American journal of physical anthropology. 2015 Mar;156(3):327–348.
Journal cover image

Published In

American journal of physical anthropology

DOI

EISSN

1096-8644

ISSN

0002-9483

Publication Date

March 2015

Volume

156

Issue

3

Start / End Page

327 / 348

Related Subject Headings

  • Trees
  • Primates
  • Metatarsal Bones
  • Locomotion
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • History, Ancient
  • Hand Strength
  • Hallux
  • Anthropology, Physical
  • Anthropology