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Morphological modularity in the anthropoid axial skeleton
Hyunwoo Jung1, Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel2
1Buffalo Human Evolutionary Morphology Lab, Department of Anthropology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 380 Academic Center, Ellicott Complex, Buffalo, NY 14261, USA; Department of Anatomy, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, 19555 N 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA.
Journal of Human Evolution
|September 26, 2022
Summary
Hominoids exhibit greater axial skeletal modularity than other anthropoids, indicating less constraint on torso and skull evolution. This suggests increased evolutionary independence for these traits in human ancestors.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Comparative anatomy
- Paleoanthropology
Background:
- Hominoids display limb element modularity, implying evolutionary independence in limb proportions.
- Modularity of the axial skeleton in anthropoids remains understudied.
- Understanding axial modularity impacts theories on torso and skull evolution in apes and hominins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate axial skeletal modularity across diverse anthropoid genera.
- To determine if hominoids possess greater axial skeletal modularity compared to other anthropoids.
- To explore implications for the evolution of cranial and vertebral novelties in fossil hominins.
Main Methods:
- Sampled 12 anthropoid genera for axial skeletal analysis.
- Calculated covariance ratio coefficients using variance/covariance matrices.
- Analyzed interlandmark distances for cranium, mandible, vertebrae, and sacrum.
Main Results:
- Alouatta, Hylobates, Gorilla, Pan, and Homo exhibited stronger modularity across all axial elements.
- Alouatta, Hylobates, Gorilla, and Pan showed stronger modularity in vertebral elements.
- Humans demonstrated enhanced modularity between skull and vertebrae compared to other hominoids.
Conclusions:
- Hominoids possess greater axial skeletal modularity, suggesting reduced evolutionary constraints.
- Dissociation of trait covariation in axial elements fostered evolutionary independence in hominoid ancestors.
- This modularity may have facilitated the evolution of novel cranial and vertebral characteristics in fossil hominins.
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