Phenotypic plasticity in the mandibular morphology of Japanese macaques: captive-wild comparison.

ABSTRACT: Despite the accumulating evidence suggesting the importance of phenotypic plasticity in diversification and adaptation, little is known about plastic variation in primate skulls. The present study evaluated the plastic variation of the mandible in Japanese macaques by comparing wild and captive specimens. The results showed that captive individuals are square-jawed with relatively longer tooth rows than wild individuals. We also found that this shape change resembles the sexual dimorphism, indicating that the mandibles of captive individuals are to some extent masculinized. By contrast, the mandible morphology was not clearly explained by ecogeographical factors. These findings suggest the possibility that perturbations in the social environment in captivity and resulting changes of androg

SUBMITTER: Kamaluddin SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6689643 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature