Journal ArticleDOI
Anatomy and function of expanded ribs in certain edentates and primates.
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TLDR
Anteroposteriorly expanded ribs occur in all three species of myrme-cophagids (Cyclopes didactylus, Tamandua tetradactyla, and Myrmecophaga tridACTyla) and Functionally, expanded ribs may increase the stability of the thorax, which, in turn, increases the stability in the vertebral column.Abstract:
Anteroposteriorly expanded ribs occur in all three species of myrme-cophagids (Cyclopes didactylus, Tamandua tetradactyla, and Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Similar rib expansion occurs in some armadillos (for example, Dasypus novemcinctus, Priodontes giganteas, Euphractus sexcinctus) and in some primates (Arctocebus calabarensis, Perodicticus potto, and Loris tardigradus). In C. didactylus and A. calabarensis rib expansion is so extensive that adjacent ribs imbricate. the epaxial and hypaxial musculature related to the expanded ribs in all three myrmecophagid species is described. the intercostal spaces in T. tetradactyla and M. tridactyla are approximately 50 per cent narrower than in various other mammals with unexpanded ribs; the intercostal musculature of these two species is approximately twice as thick as that in other mammals with unexpanded ribs. the proportion of intercostal musculature in C. didactylus is comparable to that in other mammals. Functionally, expanded ribs may increase the stability of the thorax, which, in turn, increases the stability of the vertebral column. This specialization in T. tetradactyla and M. tridactyla probably relates to their fossorial habitus; the trunk is stabilized during fossorial activity by xenarthrous processes in the lumbar region and by expanded ribs and robust intercostal muscles in the thorax. in strictly arboreal forms such as C. didactylus and A. calabarensis, lumbo-thoracic stability may be employed in methodical arboreal locomotion. C. didactylus, at least, is able to anchor itself with hind feet and tail and extend its trunk and forelimbs to reach an adjacent branch—a feat requiring unusual lumbothoracic stability.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
The origin of the turtle body plan: evidence from fossils and embryos
TL;DR: It is now possible to develop a comprehensive scenario for the sequence of evolutionary changes leading to the formation of the turtle body plan within a phylogenetic framework and evaluate it in light of the ontogenetic development of the shell in extant turtles.
Book ChapterDOI
Ranging Patterns of the Pygmy Slow Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) in a Mixed Deciduous Forest in Eastern Cambodia
Carly Starr,K. A. I. Nekaris +1 more
Trapping, collaring and monitoring the Lorisinae of Asia (Loris, Nycticebus) and Perodicticinae (Arctocebus, Perodicticus) of Africa
Abstract: We can gain a better understanding of elusive nocturnal mammals through live trapping them to gain vital samples and measurements and through following them in the night with radio or GPS collars. Studies that involve humane live-trapping of a species open the doors into better understanding a species’ evolution, diversity, adaptations, and behaviour. We review 11 studies that have attempted to trap lorises and pottos with physical traps, and show that this method yields very low success, and is achievable largely with traps specifically built and designed for the species. Hand trapping, however, was successful in 7 studies, and we make recommendations for this procedure. Once caught, we provide a detailed list of measurements and samples that can be taken, and review 14 studies (both reintroduction and wild) that have used various radio collars to track lorises and pottos. We intend that these recommendations will provide a standard by which lorises and pottos can be compared throughout their range.
Book ChapterDOI
The Soft-Tissue Anatomy of the Highly Derived Hand of Perodicticus Relative to the More Generalised Nycticebus
TL;DR: The African lorisid subfamily Perodicticinae includes the slow-moving angwantibos (Arctocebus) and the pottos (Perodicticus) (Lambert, 2014), the focal taxon of this chapter.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Role of the Trunk in Stability of the Spine
TL;DR: There is a great discrepancy between the force that can theoretically be applied to the spine if the role of intracavitary pressures is ignored and theforce that can be tolerated experimentally by the isolated ligamentous human spine.
Journal ArticleDOI
Some mechanical tests on the lumbosacral spine with particular reference to the intervertebral discs; a preliminary report.
TL;DR: The investigations reported here represent an effort to explore the possibilities of obtaining quantitative data on the mechanical properties of the lumbosacral spine by applying to fresh autopsy specimens of the spine testing techniques used in civil or mechanical engineering.