Over the last 30 years, adult sexual dimorphism in anthropoids and explanations for variation in the levels of sexual dimorphism across primate taxa have been extensively studied. Lacking in these dimorphism studies, however, are details of whether or not long bones also display various levels of dimorphism. In particular no study has examined the pattern of sexual dimorphism in metacarpal lengths in nonhuman primates. Here, we assess the levels of metacarpal length dimorphism across various mating systems and examine the relationship between metacarpal length dimorphism and other anatomical measures. We predicted that sexual dimorphism in metacarpal lengths would reflect patterns in sexual dimorphism observed in body mass and canine lengths, which covary with intermale competition. Comparisons of sexual dimorphism levels for thirteen catarrhine species (including humans) using the maximum lengths of metacarpals II-V, body mass and canine length were conducted using correlation analyses. The most dimorphic species: M. sphinx, P. anubis, and G. gorilla exhibited average metacarpal length dimorphism levels greater than 20%. C. guereza, T. cristata and P. troglodytes displayed the lowest scores with averages of 5.5-7.5%. Metacarpal length dimorphism was found to be lower than that of canine length and body weight dimorphism, suggesting metacarpal length is likely not a trait associated with sexual selection. Patterns of metacarpal length dimorphism, however, were strongly correlated with body mass dimorphism (r=0.581, p<0.05) and even more similar to patterns of canine length dimorphism (r=0.683, p<0.05).

Sexual dimorphism of metacarpal lengths in catarrhine primates

MARCHI, DAMIANO
2009-01-01

Abstract

Over the last 30 years, adult sexual dimorphism in anthropoids and explanations for variation in the levels of sexual dimorphism across primate taxa have been extensively studied. Lacking in these dimorphism studies, however, are details of whether or not long bones also display various levels of dimorphism. In particular no study has examined the pattern of sexual dimorphism in metacarpal lengths in nonhuman primates. Here, we assess the levels of metacarpal length dimorphism across various mating systems and examine the relationship between metacarpal length dimorphism and other anatomical measures. We predicted that sexual dimorphism in metacarpal lengths would reflect patterns in sexual dimorphism observed in body mass and canine lengths, which covary with intermale competition. Comparisons of sexual dimorphism levels for thirteen catarrhine species (including humans) using the maximum lengths of metacarpals II-V, body mass and canine length were conducted using correlation analyses. The most dimorphic species: M. sphinx, P. anubis, and G. gorilla exhibited average metacarpal length dimorphism levels greater than 20%. C. guereza, T. cristata and P. troglodytes displayed the lowest scores with averages of 5.5-7.5%. Metacarpal length dimorphism was found to be lower than that of canine length and body weight dimorphism, suggesting metacarpal length is likely not a trait associated with sexual selection. Patterns of metacarpal length dimorphism, however, were strongly correlated with body mass dimorphism (r=0.581, p<0.05) and even more similar to patterns of canine length dimorphism (r=0.683, p<0.05).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/135325
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