| Diet and dental topography in pitheciine seed predators. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 23212472 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Pitheciines (Pithecia, Chiropotes, and Cacajao) are a specialized clade of Neotropical seed predators that exhibit postcanine teeth with low and rounded cusps and highly crenulated occlusal surface enamel. Data on feeding ecology show that Pithecia consumes proportionally more leaves than other pitheciine species, and comparative studies demonstrate its greater molar relief and relative shearing potential. However, data on pitheciine food mechanics show that Pithecia masticates seeds with greater crushing resistance than those preferred by Chiropotes. This variation predicts an opposing morphology characterized by low and more rounded occlusal surfaces in Pithecia. We build on previous research using new methods for molar surface shape quantification by examining pitheciine second molar shearing crest length, occlusal relief, surface complexity, and surface curvature relative to nonseed specializing platyrrhines and within the context of the observed interspecific variation in pitheciine feeding ecology. Consistent with the previous analyses, our findings demonstrate that pitheciine molars exhibit low shearing, relief, and curvature compared with nonseed predators, independent of phylogeny. Pitheciines also exhibit highly "complex" occlusal topography that promotes the efficient breakdown of tough seed tissues. Overall, Pithecia, Chiropotes, and Cacajao share a similar topographic pattern, suggesting adaptation to foods with similar structural and/or mechanical properties. However, Cacajao differs in surface complexity, which reflects some variation in its feeding ecology. Contrary to the predictions, Pithecia and Chiropotes do not differ in any of the topographic variables examined. The range of demands imposed on the postcanine teeth of Pithecia might therefore select for an average topography, one that converges on that of Chiropotes. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Justin A Ledogar; Julia M Winchester; Elizabeth M St Clair; Doug M Boyer |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-12-5 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: American journal of physical anthropology Volume: - ISSN: 1096-8644 ISO Abbreviation: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. Publication Date: 2012 Dec |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2012-12-5 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0400654 Medline TA: Am J Phys Anthropol Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
|
Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
Affiliation:
|
Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222. JLedogar@gmail.com. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Olfactory bulb volume in smokers.
Next Document: New insights into the regulation and cellular functions of the ARP2/3 complex.