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Study of the origins of the terrestriality in hominoids viewed from functional morphology of the talar joint

Research Project

Project/Area Number 09640834
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 人類学(含生理人類学)
Research InstitutionKYOTO UNIVERSITY

Principal Investigator

NAKATSUKASA Masato  Kyoto Univ., Graduate School of Science, Assoc. Prof., 大学院・理学研究科, 助教授 (00227828)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) ISHIDA Hidemi  Kyoto Univ., Graduate School of Science, Prof., 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (60027480)
Project Period (FY) 1997 – 1999
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1999)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥2,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,700,000)
Keywordsprimates / postcranium / subtalar joint / hominoids / evolution / locomotion / Miocene / 運動 / 二足歩行 / ニホンザル
Research Abstract

This study aims to clarify the evolutionary processes concerning the origin(s) of the terrestriality in the human-African ape clade. For this purpose, the talar joint of the Miocene apes was examined. Movements of the subtalar joint during inversion-eversion were observed in living anthropoids by using the CT scanner, and osteological and kinesiological associations were investigated. The 3-D morphology of the posterior talar articular surface of the calcaneus was measured in Proconsul major, P.nyanzae (ca.19-18 Ma), and Nacholapithecus (ca.15Ma) as well as eight living anthropoids. The proportion of the posterior talar facet and the articular surface axis in the fossil calcanei exhibit the primitive anthropoid pattern. However, movements of the posterior subtalar joint in the fossil apes show a certain degree of rotations and ab-/adduction during in-and eversion of the foot as well as dorsi-and plantarflexion. This type of functional adaptation differs from those in living large platy … More rrhines in which only the dorsi-and plantarflexion are dominated. The posterior talar facet in these fossil apes is unique in that the posterior and anterior part of the facet are peculiarly flat and the intermediate part is well flexed or convexed. Probably, the posterior subtalar joint presumed either the fully plantarflexed or dorsiflexed position when the foot is variously inverted or everted.
The posterior part of the articular surface exhibits strong inclination on the medial side. This causes a greater amount of the lateral rotations and/or adduction associated with the plantar flexion. Differing from this condition, cercopithecids has a shortened articular surface, resulting in a smaller range of movements and greater stability of the joint. This condition reflects the semi-terrestrial phase of the primitive cercopithecids. The articular surface of Pan has a less convex and smooth intermediate part. The long axis of the articular surface is strongly angled with the calcanean axis. These specializations enhance the stability of the joint through various positions and a greater component of the rotations in inversion-eversion movement. The fossil calcanei have a wide range of inversion-eversion and high stability in fully inverted of everted position though less than in living apes, thus, are unlikely adapted for ground locomotion. The morphology seen in Pan could have been developed from that of the fossil calcanei. However, the possibility that terrestrially adapted (like morphology of cercopithecids) stage existed in between them is low. Probably, The terrestrial adaptation in human-African ape clade does not go back up to the Middle Miocene. Less

Report

(4 results)
  • 1999 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1998 Annual Research Report
  • 1997 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (15 results)

All Other

All Publications (15 results)

  • [Publications] 中務真人他: "Functional anatomy of the foot skeleton of Kenyapithecus and implications for positional behavior"Primate Research. 15. 406 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 石田英実他: "New hominoid genus from the Middle Miocene of Nachola, Kenya"Anthropological Science. 107. 189-191 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 中務真人他: "A newly discovered Kenyapithecus skeleton and its implications for the evolution of positional behavior in Miocene East African hominoids"Journal of Human Evolution. 34. 657-664 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 中務真人他: "A new discovery of postcraninal skeleton of Kenyapithecus from BG-K fossils site, Nachola"Anthropological Science. 106. 138 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] M. Nakatsukasa, et al.: "Functional anatomy of the foot skeleton of Kenyapithecus and implications for positional behavior"Primate Res.. 15. 406 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H. Ishida et al.: "New hominoid genus from the Middle Miocene of Nachola, Kenya."Anthrop. Sci.. 107. 189-191 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] M. Nakatsukasa et al.: "A newly discovered Kenyapithecus skeleton and its implications for the evolution of positional behavior in Miocene East African hominoids"J. Hum. Evol.. 34. 657-664 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] M. Nakatsukasa et al.: "A new discovery of postcranial skeleton of kenyapithecus from BG-K fossils site, Nachola"Anthrop. Sci.. 106. 138 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 中務真人 他: "Functional anatomy of the foot skeleton of Kenyapithecus and implications for positional behavior"Primate Research. 15. 406 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 石田英実 他: "New hominoid genus from the Middle Miocene of Nachola,Kenya"Anthropological Science. 107. 189-191 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 中務真人 他: "A newly discovered Kenyapithecus skeleton and its implications for the evolution of positional behavior in Miocene East African hominoids"Journal of Human Evolution. 34. 657-664 (1998)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 中務真人 他: "A new discovery of postcranial skeleton of Kenyapithecus from BG-K fossils site,Nachola"Anthropological Science. 106. 138 (1998)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 中務真人 他: "A newly discovered Kenyapithecus skeleton and its implications for the evolution of positional behavior in Miocene East African hominoids" Journal of Human Evolution. 34. 657-664 (1998)

    • Related Report
      1998 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 中務真人 他: "A new discovery of postcranial skeleton of Kenyapithecus from BG-K fossils site,Nachola" Anthropological Science. 106. 138 (1998)

    • Related Report
      1998 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 中務真人 他 4名: "A newly discovered Kenyapithecus skeleton and its implications for the evolution of positional behavior in Miocene East African hominoids" Journal of Human Evolution. (in press).

    • Related Report
      1997 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1997-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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