Structural allometry of the prosimian mandibular corpus and symphysis
1991; Elsevier BV; Volume: 20; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0047-2484(91)90042-t
ISSN1095-8606
Autores Tópico(s)Animal Behavior and Reproduction
ResumoExperimental and comparative studies among primates suggest that symphyseal fusion and relatively large mandibular symphysis and corpus dimensions are often part of the same functional patternHylander, 1977, Hylander, 1979a, Hylander, 1979b, Hylander, 1984, Hylander, 1985, Hylander, 1988;Beecher, 1977, Beecher, 1979, Beecher, 1983. To test this hypothesis further, the biomechanical scaling of corpus and symphysis dimensions was examined in prosimians and compared to anthropoids. Symphyseal fusion was similarly investigated in large-bodied Malagasy "subfossil" lemurs. Dietary influences on prosimian corpus and symphysis proportions were also considered, because leaf-eating positively affects the degree of symphyseal fusion (Beecher, 1977, Beecher, 1979, Beecher, 1983; but see alsoGreaves, 1988 and mandibular robusticity (Hylander, 1979a;Bouvier, 1986a, Bouvier, 1986b). Prosimian regression lines for mandibular corpus and symphysis measures are significantly transposed below those for anthropoids.Palaeopropithecus maximus, P. ingens, Hadropithecus stenognathus, Archaeolemur edwardsi andA. majori display relatively robust symphysis and corpus dimensions, which appear to be related to large body size and folivory.Megaladapis madagascariensis, M. grandidieri andM. edwardsi have more moderately positive residuals; thus symphyseal fusion appears more singularly the result of large size. Leaf-eating prosimians, such as indriids, do display relatively large corpora and symphyses. These data strongly support previous predictions about structural and functional differences between the masticatory system of extant primate suborders (e.g.,Hylander, 1979a;Beecher, 1977, Beecher, 1979).
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