Locomotion and Feeding Postures of Spider and Howling Monkeys: Field Study and Evolutionary Interpretation

Abstract

Field observations demonstrate clear differences in locomotion and feeding postures between spider monkeys (Ateles) and howling monkeys (Alouatta). When feeding, Ateles employs sitting postures approximately half the time, and a variety of suspensory postures using the tail the other half. Ateles moves quadrupedally during 52% of locomotion, by tail-arm suspension 25 %, and various mixed support-suspensory modes the remainder. Tail-arm suspension is practiced more rapidly on thinner supports, and on more negatively inclined supports than is quadrupedal movement. Howlers do not locomote by tail-arm suspension: movement is almost entirely quadrupedal and is slower than that of spider monkeys. The positional behavior of spider monkeys fits closely recent views of major adaptive changes in hominoid evolution emphasizing brachiation and speed during travel. Howler locomotion and also tissue composition appear related to diet and digestive mechanisms.

Mammalian Diversity and Matses Ethnomammalogy in Amazonian Peru Part 1: Primates

“…Of the remaining 21 uncorroborated ecobehavioral observations that the Matses reported for Ateles belzebuth, we judged 20 to be plausible because they (1) are reasonable extrapolations from published scientific observations, (2) could be expected to depend on local conditions, (3) are behaviors that (Carpenter, 1935;Cant, 1986;Youlatos, 2002) 2. Use tails to grab onto things Corroborated (Carpenter, 1935;Cant, 1986;Youlatos, 2002) 3.…”

“…Use tails to grab onto things Corroborated (Carpenter, 1935;Cant, 1986;Youlatos, 2002) 3. Travel swinging under branches, using arms and tail Corroborated (Carpenter, 1935;Cant, 1986;Youlatos, 2002) 4.…”

“…Use tails to grab onto things Corroborated (Carpenter, 1935;Cant, 1986;Youlatos, 2002) 3. Travel swinging under branches, using arms and tail Corroborated (Carpenter, 1935;Cant, 1986;Youlatos, 2002) 4. Hang by their tails when they eat fruit, all spread out Corroborated (Mittermeier, 1978;Cant, 1986;Youlatos, 2002) 5.…”

Rain forests and movement ecology of neotropical primates

“…Madden movement ecology 4 4 extreme body actions, and subtle postural adjustments such as when repositioning a foot to avoid a spiny branch (Cant 1986, Garber 2000, Gebo 1992). An arboreal primate's canopy runway often passes through and across tangled branches tilted at all angles, twisting lianas, abrupt gaps, rotten cavities, prickly stems, and other potential obstacles to locomotion.…”

Travel adaptations of Bornean Agile Gibbons Hylobates albibarbis (Primates: Hylobatidae)in a degraded secondary forest, Indonesia

“…Data were collected for climbing, leaping, brachiation and bipedal walking and merged into two main locomotor modes-brachiating and leaping for comparison. It was decided to focus only on the two most recognisable and distinguishable forms of locomotion to reduce inter-observer error: leaping, defined as discontinuous progression where the hindlimbs provide all the propulsion, and brachiation (arm swinging), defined as discontinuous progression in which the forearms are used in a suspended posture (Fleagle 1976;Cant 1986;. The authors recognise the importance of studying several forms of locomotion and we recommend that in such cases data are collected by only one or two researchers to ensure that there is no confusion between locomotion types.…”