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Text
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URL Address
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1948" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1948</a>
Pages
556–566
Issue
8
Volume
323
Dublin Core
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Title
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Tail function during arboreal quadrupedalism in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis) and tamarins (Saguinus oedipus).
Publisher
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Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological genetics and physiology
Date
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2015
2015-10
Subject
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Animals; Extremities/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Gait; Motor Activity/*physiology; Postural Balance; Saguinus/*physiology; Saimiri/*physiology; Tail/*physiology
Creator
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Young Jesse W; Russo Gabrielle A; Fellmann Connie D; Thatikunta Meena A; Chadwell Brad A
Description
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The need to maintain stability on narrow branches is often presented as a major selective force shaping primate morphology, with adaptations to facilitate grasping receiving particular attention. The functional importance of a long and mobile tail for maintaining arboreal stability has been comparatively understudied. Tails can facilitate arboreal balance by acting as either static counterbalances or dynamic inertial appendages able to modulate whole-body angular momentum. We investigate associations between tail use and inferred grasping ability in two closely related cebid platyrrhines-cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) and black-capped squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis). Using high-speed videography of captive monkeys moving on 3.2 cm diameter poles, we specifically test the hypothesis that squirrel monkeys (characterized by grasping extremities with long digits) will be less dependent on the tail for balance than tamarins (characterized by claw-like nails, short digits, and a reduced hallux). Tamarins have relatively longer tails than squirrel monkeys, move their tails through greater angular amplitudes, at higher angular velocities, and with greater angular accelerations, suggesting dynamic use of tail to regulate whole-body angular momentum. By contrast, squirrel monkeys generally hold their tails in a comparatively stationary posture and at more depressed angles, suggesting a static counterbalancing mechanism. This study, the first empirical test of functional tradeoffs between grasping ability and tail use in arboreal primates, suggests a critical role for the tail in maintaining stability during arboreal quadrupedalism. Our findings have the potential to inform our functional understanding of tail loss during primate evolution.
Identifier
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<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1948" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1002/jez.1948</a>
Rights
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Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
2015
Animals
Chadwell Brad A
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology
Extremities/anatomy & histology/*physiology
Fellmann Connie D
Gait
Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological genetics and physiology
Motor Activity/*physiology
NEOMED College of Medicine
Postural Balance
Russo Gabrielle A
Saguinus/*physiology
Saimiri/*physiology
Tail/*physiology
Thatikunta Meena A
Young Jesse W