THE JOINTS OF THE TARSUS IN THE STREPSIRHINE PRIMATES: FUNCTIONAL, ADAPTIVE, AND EVOLUTIONARY IMPLICATIONS (LOCOMOTION).
Item
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Title
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THE JOINTS OF THE TARSUS IN THE STREPSIRHINE PRIMATES: FUNCTIONAL, ADAPTIVE, AND EVOLUTIONARY IMPLICATIONS (LOCOMOTION).
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Identifier
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AAI8614667
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identifier
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8614667
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Creator
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DAGOSTO, MARIAN.
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Contributor
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Frederick L. Szalay
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Date
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1986
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Anthropology, Physical
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Abstract
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The purpose of this project is to analyze the functional, adaptive, and phylogenetic aspects of the tarsal joints in extant and extinct strepsirhine primates. Joint surfaces are described in linear dimensions, aspects of curvature, orientation, their placement in the MacConaill joint classification system, and other nonmetrical aspects of form. Functional attributes of joints are analyzed based on these components of form.;Form-function complexes of joints are related to particular aspects of positional behavior by comparing the distribution of such traits with the distribution of differences in presence or frequency of positional behaviors. However suggestive these lines of evidence may be, the hypothesis of a relationship between a morphological feature and an aspect of positional behavior is considered weak unless the functions deriving from the form of the feature allow the organism to fulfill the selective demands of the behavior. Causal arguments are the only valid tests of these kinds of hypotheses.;Not unexpectedly, leaping, climbing, and grasping have the most impact on the form of the tarsus. Leaping and climbing exert opposing selective forces leading to antithetical morphological adaptations. Since both behaviors are performed by almost all strepsirhines, some interesting compromises exist, especially in indriines and galagines.;The notharctine primates are most similar to the extant lemurids in tarsal morphology and presumed locomotor behavior, but adapins are best reconstructed as quadrupedal climbers. The tarsals of the subfossil Varecia insignis and archaeolemurines evidence some committment to terrestriality. Megaladapis, however, was predominantly arboreal.;A phylogenetic analysis of the tarsus corroborates accepted phylogenetic hypotheses of primate and strepsirhine relationships. Two synapomorphies unite Adapiformes and Lemuriformes into a monophyletic Strepsirhini. Extant Lemuriformes form two natural groups. The Lemuroidea (Lemuridae and Indriidae) are united by pedal features related to large body size and increased use of vertical supports. The Lorisoidea (Cheirogaleidae and Lorisidae) are the more primitive group postcranially and are not defined by any derived pedal features. Within this group, some cheirogaleids share extensive pedal synapomorphies with the Galaginae. Daubentonia has a very primitive tarsus suggesting an early split between it and other Lemuriformes.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Anthropology
