Dissertation Reseach: Anatomical Correlates to Behavior in the Postcranium of Callitrichidae (Platyrrhini, Primates)

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Previous studies of primate evolution have demonstrated that certain aspects of evolution, ecology, and behavior have a direct impact on the size and shape of the bony and muscular elements of the skeleton. However, the relationships are not always clear, nor are the correlations the same across different primate groups. Several specific determinants of form have been identified, such as diet and foraging behavior, size and orientation of branches used in the natural habitat, locomotor movements and postures, body size, and evolutionary history of the lineage. The goal of this study is to correlate skeletal and muscular anatomy with these key determinants of form in eleven species of poorly-understood and highly endangered group of South American monkeys. Specific measurements and descriptions of the bones and musculature of all four limbs in each of the eleven monkey species will be taken. Such data will also be collected in a group of eight additional primates, sharing ecological and behavioral similarities with the monkeys, to be used for comparative purposes. Details of the behavior and ecology of each monkey species and members of the comparative group will be taken from published field studies and films of several monkeys in captivity. The anatomical data will be analyzed for its functional significance, determining the movement capabilities of each limb joint, and then will be statistically correlated with the behavioral data for each species. This integrated approach will provide a comprehensive understanding of the functional anatomy of an important group of South American monkeys. It will also serve as a rigorous test of several previous suggestions of anatomy/behavior correlations and will address numerous broader issues in primate anatomy and evolution.