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

新大陆灵长类动物中有5个属（ 也在爬行动物的两个亚目中独立进化， 两栖动物目，哺乳动物六目）。 在灵长类动物中， 它显然进化了两次 尽管这很重要 结构，很少有人知道的功能和模式， 在任何灵长类动物属中使用可伸缩的尾巴。 这项研究将有助于了解如何以及为什么 三种灵长类动物-吼猴-都有一条可伸缩的尾巴 （Alouatta），蜘蛛猴（Ateles）和卷尾猴（Cebus）。 早期的建议认为，可伸缩的尾巴是一个有效的 适应允许大型动物悬浮在小 分支环境，在那里他们可以达到大的水果， 例如，已经明显不足。进给和 三个物种的位置行为将进行比较 在两个林冠结构和植物种类不同的森林中， 多样性 这项研究将涉及资源分析 使用的灵长类动物和定量观察他们的 位置和进食行为。

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.