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Cross-sectional Bone Distribution in the Mandibles of Gouging and Non-gouging Platyrrhini

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Recent morphometric analyses have led to dissimilar conclusions about whether the jaws of tree-gouging primates are designed to resist the purportedly large forces generated during this biting behavior. We further address this question by comparing the cross-sectional geometry of the mandibular corpus and symphysis in tree-gouging common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to nongouging saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). As might be expected, based on size, squirrel monkeys tend to have absolutely larger cross-sectional areas at each tooth location sampled, while saddleback tamarins are intermediate, followed by the smaller common marmosets. Similarly, the amount and distribution of cortical bone in squirrel monkey jaws provides them with increased ability to resist sagittal bending (I xx ) and torsion (K) in the corpus as well as coronal bending (I xx ) and shearing in the symphysis. However, when the biomechanical parameters are scaled to respective load arm estimates, there are few significant differences in relative resistance abilities among the 3 species. A power analysis indicates that we cannot statistically rule out subtle changes in marmoset jaw form linked to resisting loads during gouging. Nevertheless, our results correspond to studies in vivo of jaw loading, field data, and other comparative analyses suggesting that common marmosets do not generate relatively large bite forces during tree gouging. The 3 species are like most other anthropoids in having thinner bone on the lingual than on the buccal side of the mandibular corpus at M1. The similarity in corporal shape across anthropoids supports a hypothesized stereotypical pattern of jaw loading during chewing and may indicate a conserved pattern of mandibular growth for the suborder. Despite the overall similarity, platyrrhines may differ slightly from catarrhines in the details of their cortical bone distribution.

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Notes

  1. We determined the a priori effect sizes by exploring the interspecific variation in 25 skull dimensions across 103 primate species. These dimensions included both scalar and shape dimensions, but not higher-order dimensions. The effect sizes of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 correspond to the average percentage differences from each mean at 0.5, 1, and 2 standard deviation units across the species, respectively. Thus, these values represent empirical estimates of small, medium, and large differences that might be observed when comparing skull dimensions among primate species. It is important to note that the effect sizes are not scaled to variation in the measurements analyzed in this study as is done is some prospective power analyses (e.g., Cohen, 1992).

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank R. Thorington and L. Gordon of the NMNH for access to and loan of the specimens for scanning, R. Ketcham and M. Colbert of the University of Texas at Austin High-Resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography facility, and M. Maga for his invaluable assistance in writing the cross-sectional geometry quantification program. We thank A. Burrows, D. Daegling, M. Ravosa, A. Taylor, and 2 anonymous reviewers for both useful discussions and comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. The National Science Foundation provided funding (BCS-094666, BCS-0412153 to C. J. Vinyard and BCS-9908847 to T. M. Ryan).

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  1. Department of Anatomy, NEOUCOM, Rootstown, Ohio, 44272, USA

    Christopher J. Vinyard

  2. Department of Anthropology and Center for Quantitative Imaging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Timothy M. Ryan

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Vinyard, C.J., Ryan, T.M. Cross-sectional Bone Distribution in the Mandibles of Gouging and Non-gouging Platyrrhini. Int J Primatol 27, 1461–1490 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-006-9083-7

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