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Published on: December 3, 2016
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Long bone cross-sectional properties reflect changes in locomotor behavior in developing chimpanzees.
Lauren A Sarringhaus1,2, Laura M MacLatchy3, John C Mitani3
1Evolutionary Studies Institute, Palaeosciences Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|January 19, 2016
Summary
Young chimpanzees
Area of Science:
- Primate locomotion and skeletal morphology
- Paleoanthropology and evolutionary biology
- Biomechanics and functional morphology
Background:
- Chimpanzee locomotor behavior shifts significantly during development, from suspensory behaviors in juveniles to quadrupedal knuckle-walking in adults.
- These ontogenetic changes in locomotion expose developing chimpanzee long bones to different mechanical loading environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how developmental changes in chimpanzee locomotion affect the strength and shape of their femora and humeri.
- To understand the relationship between functional demands and skeletal form during ontogeny in primates.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral data on wild chimpanzee arboreal locomotion across age classes were analyzed.
- Micro computed tomographic scans were used to measure midshaft geometric properties of femora and humeri from museum specimens.
Main Results:
- Chimpanzee arboreal locomotion decreased with age, while femoral/humeral strength ratios increased.
- Femoral shape exhibited age-related changes, with adult femora being more elliptical than infant femora.
- Humeral shape did not significantly vary across age classes.
Conclusions:
- Ontogenetic shifts in locomotor behavior influence the biomechanical properties and shape of chimpanzee long bones.
- These findings provide insights into how skeletal structure reflects functional adaptations during development.
- The study suggests that skeletal properties of fossil hominoids may offer clues about their locomotor behavior.
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