The primate semicircular canal system and locomotion.

Bibliographic Collection:

MOCA Reference, APE

Publication Type: Journal Article

Authors: Spoor, F.; Garland, T.; Krovitz, G.; Ryan, T. M.; Silcox, M. T.; Walker, A.

Year of Publication: 2007

Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Volume: 104

Issue: 26

Pagination: 10808-12

Date Published: 06/2007

Publication Language: eng

ISSN: 1091-6490

Keywords: Animals, Ear Canal, Head, Locomotion, Motion, Phylogeny, Primates

Abstract:

The semicircular canal system of vertebrates helps coordinate body movements, including stabilization of gaze during locomotion. Quantitative phylogenetically informed analysis of the radius of curvature of the three semicircular canals in 91 extant and recently extinct primate species and 119 other mammalian taxa provide support for the hypothesis that canal size varies in relation to the jerkiness of head motion during locomotion. Primate and other mammalian species studied here that are agile and have fast, jerky locomotion have significantly larger canals relative to body mass than those that move more cautiously.

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0704250104

Custom 1:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17576932?dopt=Abstract

Alternate Journal: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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