A Comparative Study of the Kinematics of Trunk-to-Trunk Leaping in Callimico goeldii, Callithrix jacchus, and Cebuella pygmaea

Abstract

Callitrichids are characterized by a highly variable positional repertoire, which includes prehensile behaviors on small, flexible supports, and claw-clinging, scansorial travel, and trunk-to-trunk leaping that commonly occurs on large noncompliant supports. In this study, we examine the kinematics of trunk-to-trunk leaping in callimico (C. goeldii), the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), and the pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea). In the wild, each species is reported to exploit vertical trunks during locomotor and feeding behavior. These species differ, however, in body mass and limb proportions. Compared to common marmosets and pygmy marmosets, callimicos are heavier and have relatively longer hindlimbs.Video sequences of leaping to and from noncompliant vertical poles were collected on captive family groups of callimicos and marmosets housed at the Primate Facility of the Anthropological Institute, University of Zuerich, Switzerland. Data from 438 leaps were analyzed using equations provided by Warren and Crompton (1998a).During all trunk-to-trunk leaps, Callimico, Callithrix, and Cebuella were characterized by forelimb-first landing. Results indicate that C. jacchus failed to leap a distance of 2 m between vertical poles, whereas Callimico leaped this distance frequently. The maximum distance leaped by Cebuella was 1.4 m. Two patterns of trunk-to-trunk leaping were identified. In both common marmosets and pygmy marmosets, leaps were characterized by a relatively low angled body orientation at takeoff, low takeoff velocity, an in-air trajectory characterized by significant vertical height loss, and relatively high compressive forces during landing. In contrast, callimico's long powerful hindlimbs acted to generate higher velocities at takeoff, an in-air trajectory resulting in a height gain during all but the longest leaps, and a reduction in travel velocity when arriving at the landing substrate. The mechanical cost of transport (C) was relatively constant across different leaping distances for callimico, but increased significantly with increased leaping distance in the other two marmoset species. Overall, it appears that these three marmoset taxa are

An investigation of ecological correlates with hand and foot morphology in callitrichid primates

“…Youlatos () examined the positional behavior of six sympatric Ecuadorian primates and also found that small tegulae‐bearing callitrichids showed the highest proportions of large vertical support use. This was attributed to requirements for exudativory but, again, no values are given for the proportion of exudates in the different species' diets, supporting only observations in Garber et al (, ) that the presence of tegulae in callitrichids is linked to vertical foraging behavior. The advantages of claws and claw‐like nails in vertical substrate foraging were suggested to be of particular importance for smaller‐bodied species that regularly utilize vertical, large‐diameter surfaces, where they facilitate extra grip to compensate for limbs which have too short a reach to allow an effective contact angle to be subtended (Soligo and Martin, ; Jackson, ).…”

“…Where several studies had comparably collected/described data, average values were calculated. Data were collated from results in the following studies: Garber, 1 ; da Fonseca and Lacher, 2 ; Garber and Sussman, 3 ; Yoneda, 4 ,b; Garber, 5 ; Ayres and Clutton‐Brock, 6 ; Egler, 7 ; Ferrari and Strier, 8 ; Garber, 9 ; Peres, 10 ; Rosenberger, 11 ; Garber, 12 ; Peres, 13 ; Lopes and Ferrari, 14 ; Peres, 15 ; Garber and Pruetz, 16 ; Ferrari and Digby, 17 ; Dietz et al, 18 ; Peres, 19 ; Garber, 20 ; Hamrick, 21 ; Youlatos, 22 ; Araújo et al, 23 ; Corrêa et al, 24 ; Heymann and Buchanan‐Smith, 25 ; Heymann et al, 26 ; Martins and Setz, 27 ; Oliveira and Ferrari, 28 ; Garber and Leigh, 29 ; Miranda and Faria, 30 ; Porter, 31 ; Regan et al, 32 ; Lehman, 33 ; Porter, 34 ; Poveda and Sanchez‐Palomino, 35 ; Raboy and Dietz, 36 ; Bicca‐Marques, 37 ; Garber et al, 38 ; Yépez et al, 39 ; Cunha et al, 40 ; Burity et al, 41 ,; da Silva and Ferrari, 42 ; de Castro and Araújo, 43 ; Digby et al, 44 ; Garber, 45 ; Lapenta and Procópio‐de‐Oliveira, 46 ; Nadjafzadeh and Heymann, 47 ; Porter et al, 48 ; Raboy et al, 49 ; Garber et al, 50 ; Garber and Porter, 51 ; Porter et al, 52 ; Rehg, 53 ; Veracini, 54 ; Youlatos, 55 ; Hilário and Ferrari, 56 ; Porter and Garber, 57 ; Smith, …”

“…Long hands would increase the angle subtended by fingers and thumb when climbing on vertical supports to increase the effective grip on large‐diameter supports (Cartmill, ). Furthermore, postural behaviors such as vertical clinging and trunk‐to‐trunk leaping are strongly linked with exudativory and are typical on these supports (Garber, ; Smith, ; Youlatos, ; Garber et al, ; Youlatos, ). We consider whether intergeneric and interspecific differences in hand and foot morphology are influenced by diet and positional behavior.…”

Age‐ and sex‐based patterns of positional behavior and substrate utilization in the golden snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

“…Building on these initial adaptations, many primate species have evolved derived postural and locomotor traits including forelimb elongation associated with the demands of suspensory postures in the apes, claw-like nails for vertical clinging in callitrichines, prehensile tails in atelines and capuchins, and hindlimb elongation facilitating movement on vertical supports in several smaller-bodied taxa. These features serve a critical role in habitat utilization and resource acquisition [Bezanson, 2012;Cant, 1987;Garber, 1991Garber et al, 2009;Godfrey & Jungers, 2003;Larson, 1998;Niemitz, 1984]. Correction added on September 17, 2014, after first online publication: Table 1 was corrected.…”

Locomotor Diversification in New World Monkeys: Running, Climbing, or Clawing Along Evolutionary Branches

“…Callimico is very specialized postcranially, especially in the hind limbs and ankle joint, which are designed to facilitate increased leaping by providing the necessary mechanical advantage and required stability for load resistance (Ford,1988; Garber and Leigh,2001; Davis,2002; Garber et al;2005,2009). Behaviorally, callimicos exhibit particularly high rates of leaping, most of which are vertical leaps (Garber et al;2005,2009), while quadrupedalism, climbing and clawed locomotion are used in a lesser degree (Garber and Leigh,2001). These patterns appear to be ecologically associated with the exploitation of the lower forest strata with abundant vertical supports, where they frequently forage for arthropods and collect fruit and fungi (Porter and Garber,2004).…”