Comparative sacral morphology and the reconstructed tail lengths of five extinct primates: Proconsul heseloni, Epipliopithecus vindobonensis, Archaeolemur edwardsi, Megaladapis grandidieri, and Palaeopropithecus kelyus

Journal of Human Evolution
Gabrielle A Russo

Abstract

This study evaluated the relationship between the morphology of the sacrum-the sole bony link between the tail or coccyx and the rest of the body-and tail length (including presence/absence) and function using a comparative sample of extant mammals spanning six orders (Primates, Carnivora, Rodentia, Diprotodontia, Pilosa, Scandentia; N = 472). Phylogenetically-informed regression methods were used to assess how tail length varied with respect to 11 external and internal (i.e., trabecular) bony sacral variables with known or suspected biomechanical significance across all mammals, only primates, and only non-primates. Sacral variables were also evaluated for primates assigned to tail categories ('tailless,' 'nonprehensile short-tailed,' 'nonprehensile long-tailed,' and 'prehensile-tailed'). Compared to primates with reduced tail lengths, primates with longer tails generally exhibited sacra having larger caudal neural openings than cranial neural openings, and last sacral vertebrae with more mediolaterally-expanded caudal articular surfaces than cranial articular surfaces, more laterally-expanded transverse processes, more dorsally-projecting spinous processes, and larger caudal articular surface areas. Observations were corrobor...Continue Reading

References

Dec 17, 1992·Nature·P Andrews
Jan 1, 1991·Journal of Biomechanics·S A GoldsteinS J Hollister
Jan 1, 1990·Journal of Biomechanics·C H TurnerJ C Rice
Jan 1, 1989·Scientific American·A Walker, M Teaford
Sep 1, 1987·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·M M Abitbol
Jul 1, 1985·Calcified Tissue International·C T Rubin, L E Lanyon
Jan 1, 1985·Journal of Biomechanics·L J Gibson
Feb 13, 1984·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·J D Currey
Nov 1, 1993·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·C V Ward
Aug 1, 1993·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·C F SpoorG A Macho
Jun 1, 1997·Journal of Human Evolution·R J Smith, W L Jungers
Jul 8, 1999·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·T C Rae
Jul 13, 1999·American Journal of Primatology·J E TurnquistJ G Cant
Aug 13, 1999·Journal of Human Evolution·T Harrison, G Yumin
Oct 12, 1999·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·P A Garber, J A Rehg
Jul 12, 2001·Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering·T M KeavenyO C Yeh
Jul 27, 2001·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·R J Fajardo, R Müller
Jul 6, 2002·Journal of Human Evolution·Timothy M Ryan, Richard A Ketcham
Aug 6, 2002·Journal of Human Evolution·Timothy M Ryan, Richard A Ketcham
Oct 8, 2003·Journal of Human Evolution·Masato NakatsukasaHidemi Ishida
Dec 31, 2003·Journal of Human Evolution·Hidemi IshidaMasato Nakatsukasa
Jan 22, 2004·Bioinformatics·Emmanuel ParadisKorbinian Strimmer
Jun 9, 2004·Journal of Human Evolution·Masato NakatsukasaNaomichi Ogihara
Sep 24, 2004·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Daniel SchmittPierre Lemelin
Oct 27, 2004·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·F AnapolC J Jolly
Jan 22, 2005·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution·Yuichi Narita, Shigeru Kuratani
Aug 20, 2005·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Liza J ShapiroGisèle F N Randria
Sep 15, 2005·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Susan G Larson, Jack T Stern
Dec 3, 2005·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Murat MagaRichard A Ketcham
Sep 12, 2006·Journal of Human Evolution·Timothy M Ryan, Gail E Krovitz
Dec 16, 2006·American Journal of Primatology·Liza J Shapiro
Feb 3, 2007·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Lisa M Day, Bruce C Jayne
Mar 30, 2007·Nature·Olaf R P Bininda-EmondsAndy Purvis
Aug 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·R P FreckletonM Pagel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 12, 2017·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Abigail C Nishimura, Gabrielle A Russo
Oct 14, 2018·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Gabrielle A Russo
Feb 6, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Sarah T Mincer, Gabrielle A Russo
Jun 1, 2020·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Jacqueline Runestad Connour, Kenneth E Glander
Feb 6, 2019·Scientific Reports·Hikaru Wakamori, Yuzuru Hamada
Dec 18, 2021·Anatomia, histologia, embryologia·Sa'ad M Y IsmailHelen M S Davies

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology
Gabrielle A Russo
Journal of Human Evolution
Gabrielle A Russo, Liza J Shapiro
Journal of Human Evolution
Masato NakatsukasaNaomichi Ogihara
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved