Dissertation Research: A Comparative Study of Prehensile Tail Use in Alouatta Palliata, Ateles Geoffroyi, and Cebus Capucinus

论文研究：Alouatta Palliata、Ateles Geoffroyi 和 Cebus Capucinus 的 Prehensile 尾部使用的比较研究

• 批准号: 9307631
• 负责人: Robert Sussman
• 金额: $ 1.1万
• 依托单位: Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1993
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1993-06-01 至 1994-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9307631&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Comparative; Study; Prehensile

The prehensile tail exists within 5 New World primate genera (it also has evolved independently in two suborders of reptiles, an order of amphibians, an six orders of mammals). In the primates, it clearly evolved twice. Despite the importance of this structure, little is known regarding the function and pattern of prehensile tail use in any primate genus. This study will contribute to an understanding of how and why the prehensile tail is used by three primate genera - the howler (Alouatta), the spider monkey (Ateles), and the capuchin (Cebus). Earlier suggestions that the prehensile tail was an effective adaptation allowing the suspension of large bodied animals in small branch environments, where they could reach large fruits, for example, have become clearly insufficient. The feeding and positional behaviors of each of the three species will be compared in two forests which differ in canopy structure and plant species diversity. This research will involve analysis of the resources used by the primates and quantitative observation of their positional and feeding behavior.

可卷曲的尾巴存在于5个新世界灵长类属中（它也在爬行动物的两个亚目，两栖动物的一个目，哺乳动物的六个目中独立进化）。在灵长类动物中，它显然进化了两次。尽管这种结构很重要，但在任何灵长类动物属中，关于卷曲尾巴的功能和模式知之甚少。这项研究将有助于理解三种灵长类动物——咆哮猴（Alouatta）、蜘蛛猴（Ateles）和卷尾猴（Cebus）——如何以及为什么使用可卷曲的尾巴。先前的观点认为，可以卷握的尾巴是一种有效的适应，可以让大型动物在小树枝环境中悬浮，例如，在那里它们可以接触到大的果实，这显然是不充分的。在两种不同树冠结构和植物物种多样性的森林中，比较三种植物的取食和定位行为。这项研究将包括分析灵长类动物使用的资源，并定量观察它们的位置和摄食行为。