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Biometrical characteristics of primate hands

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Hands of Primates

Abstract

The length proportions of the primate hands and their elements are analyzed in 43 extant genera and 6 fossil genera. The length of the hand in relation to the forelimb length does not characterize taxonomic groups, but rather locomotor modes, such as vertical-clinging-and-leaping, claw-climbing, and terrestrial quadrupe-dalism, as opposed to arboreal quadrupedalism. The relative lengths of the carpus, metacarpus, and digits appear mainly related to the phylogenetic history of the primates. Paraxony, instead of mesaxony, is the most frequent pattern of the simiiform hand, whereas hypermesaxony characterizes humans, hylobatids, and tarsiers. The proportions of the primitive euprimate hand are discussed in the light of the hand proportions of extant primates. Proportions drawn from hand remains of Megaladapis edwardsi, Proconsul africanus, Mesopithecus pentelici, Notharctus, Adapts parisiensis, and Plesiadapis insignis are compared to those of extant primates, and discussed from both phylogenetical and functional points of view.

To the memory of our colleague Jacques Lessertisseur.

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Authors
  1. F. K. Jouffroy
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  2. M. Godinot
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  3. Y. Nakano
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Funktionelle Morphologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Gebäude MA 0/44, D-4630, Bochum 1, Germany

    Holger Preuschoft

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    David J. Chivers

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Jouffroy, F.K., Godinot, M., Nakano, Y. (1993). Biometrical characteristics of primate hands. In: Preuschoft, H., Chivers, D.J. (eds) Hands of Primates. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6914-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6914-8_9

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