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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

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Great ape walking kinematics: Implications for hominoid evolution.

Emma M Finestone^1,2, Mary H Brown³, Stephen R Ross³

¹Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York 10016.

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

|January 10, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Great apes exhibit diverse quadrupedal gaits, not favoring the diagonal sequences typical of other primates. Their locomotion patterns are more influenced by speed than body mass, offering insights into hominoid evolution.

Keywords:

Hominoid evolution gait selection great ape knuckle-walking primate locomotion

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Area of Science:

Primate locomotion
Paleoanthropology
Biomechanics

Background:

Great apes serve as crucial models for understanding hominoid and early hominin locomotion.
Previous research indicates primates often utilize diagonal sequence gaits.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the prevalence of diagonal sequence gaits in great apes.
To analyze variations in gait and posture across different great ape species.
To investigate the influence of body mass and limb proportions on quadrupedal kinematics.

Main Methods:

High-speed digital video analysis of bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans walking over-ground.
Measurement of limb touch-down, take-off timing, and joint/segment angles.
Kinematic and spatiotemporal data collection at self-selected speeds.

Main Results:

Great apes displayed significant kinematic and spatiotemporal similarity in quadrupedal walking.
Size-adjusted walking speed was the primary determinant of gait variables.
Great apes showed variable gait patterns, frequently shifting between diagonal and lateral sequences, unlike most other primates.
Body mass had minimal impact on joint and segment angles, though larger apes exhibited a trend toward higher stride frequency.

Conclusions:

The observed similarities in terrestrial walking kinematics among extant great apes likely stem from their comparable post-cranial anatomy.
Miocene ape species with orthograde and suspensory postures may have exhibited locomotion similar to modern great apes.
Videographic and behavioral data are valuable for interpreting primate skeletal morphology and evolutionary history.