Morphological differences in the calcaneus among extant great apes investigated by three-dimensional geometric morphometrics.

ABSTRACT: Investigating the morphological differences of the calcaneus in humans and great apes is crucial for reconstructing locomotor repertories of fossil hominins. However, morphological variations in the calcaneus of the great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans) have not been sufficiently studied. This study aims to clarify variations in calcaneal morphology among great apes based on three-dimensional geometric morphometrics. A total of 556 landmarks and semilandmarks were placed on the calcaneal surface to calculate the principal components of shape variations among specimens. Clear interspecific differences in calcaneal morphology were extracted, corresponding to the degree of arboreality of the three species. The most arboreal orangutans possessed comparatively more slender calcanea

SUBMITTER: Nozaki S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8536676 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature