Dissertation Research: A Comparative Study of Manual Prehensility in Prosimian Primates and Didelphid Marsupials

摘要P.I.John Fleagle/Pierre Lemelin SBR-9318750在灵长类起源的模型中，可缠绕的肢体的进化是一个反复出现的主题。然而，对于灵长类的手转向更强的抓握能力的潜在原因，人们存在着强烈的分歧。树栖灵长类起源理论的支持者认为，树上的运动，特别是从树枝到树枝的跳跃，是涉及缠绕手和其他灵长类诊断特征进化的主要选择因素。还提出了另一种模型，强调在细枝支撑物上对无脊椎动物的视觉捕食，以解释这些特征的出现。评估这些模型的主要问题是，对于现存灵长类动物的性能变量实际上如何与手的功能和结构相关，还没有详细的知识。为此，这项研究项目将记录现存的原猴灵长类动物在移动、姿势和操纵食物时手的形态和手的使用之间的联系。手部比例和肌肉结构的差异将与选定属的手部行为观察进行对比。然后将与一些非灵长类类群进行比较，以突出灵长类特有的恐惧性。这项研究将为评估灵长类起源的各种模型、解释人工抓取以及许多重要化石手的干扰行为提供经验基础。*P\anthro\jfred\9318750.abs！！！D；；(Times新罗马符号&amp；Arial“h%%=Jonathan Friedlaender Jonathan Friedlaender

ABSTRACT P.I. John Fleagle/Pierre Lemelin SBR- 9318750 The evolution of prehensile extremities is a recurrent theme in models of primate origins. However, there is strong disagreement about the underlying causes associated with the shift toward greater prehensile capabilities of the hand in primates. Proponents of the arboreal theory of primate origins have suggested that locomotion in the trees, especially leaping from branch to branch, was the primary selective factor involved in the evolution of prehensile hands and other primate diagnostic features. Alternative models stressing viual predation on invertebrates on fine-branch supports have also been proposed to explain the emergence of these features. The main problem when evaluating these models is that no detailed knowledge exists on how performance variables actually relate to hand function and structure in extant primates. To this end, this research project will document associations between hand morphology and hand use during locomotion, posture, and manipulation of food objects whithin extant prosimian primates. Differences in hand proportions and musculature will be contrasted with behavioral observataions on hand use for selected genera. Comparisons will then be made with some non-primate groups in order to highlight the peculiarly primate specializations of prehensility. This study will provide an empirical basis to evaluate various models of primate origins to explain manual prehensility, and to interpert behavior in many important fossil hands. *** P\anthro\jfried\9318750.abs ! ! ! D ; ; ( Times New Roman Symbol & Arial " h % % = Jonathan Friedlaender Jonathan Friedlaender