The Morphology Research On Limb Bone Of Macaca Mulatta In The Taihang Mountains

The non-human primate is one of the most important groups in the mammalianevolution study. As fossil materials of non-human primate are reared, there aremany difficulties on the probing into its taxonomic status, species diversity,geographical distribution and habitat restoration etc. The study on the skeletalmorphology of non-human primate could provide valuable reference not only to itsbehavior habits, sexual difference origin and asymmetric characteristics, but alsothe research of fossil non-human primates.In this paper, the morphological characteristics of six limb bones of adult Macacamulatta are described, and 58 humeri ( 19♂39♀), 46 radiuses ( 19♂27♀) , 48ulnas (21♂27♀), 58 femurs ( 22♂36♀), 46 tibias ( 19♂27♀) and 43 fibulas( 17♂26♀), and some limb bones of a adult male fossil macaque are measuredreferred to the measurement methods of non-human primate. Variance analysis,discriminant analysis, correlation analysis and cluster analysis methods are all usedfor Statistics. The results are as followed:Sexual difference and correlation analysis of limb (1) single-factor analysis ofvariance shows that there is very significant difference between male and female inthe most majority of measured variables (P <0.01 ) . (2) With the enter independenttogether and stepwise method, the gender correct discriminant rate of each limbcould be higher than 80%. (3) Discriminant rates of tibia, humerus, femur andradius are higher (> 86%); high discriminant rate of the variable is usually in thelimb proximal and distal end, indicating the closely relation to the movement. (4)Female correct discriminant rate is higher than the male, indicating that the growthis not synchronized between male and female, mainly due to the difference ofphysical and environmental resilience between male and female.Asymmetry analysis of limb bones: (1) Directional asymmetry of limb bones existin the whole group and also for the two genders. The fore limb asymmetry issignificant which shows left dominant (%SDA < 0), smaller asymmetry of the hindlimb, differences reflection in the use of fore and hind limbs. The left forelimb dominance may be due to depending mainly on the left side to support the weight inorder to release the right to freedom of activity. (2) The different variables ofasymmetry were significantly different which include the striking asymmetry of thewidth bone shaft and the existence of cross-asymmetry between some variables infore and hind limbs. (3) The directional asymmetry of the female limb bones hashigher significance than males'because of the behavior and bone growthdifferences between male and female.The comparative study results between the Macaca mulatta in Taihang Mountainand its fossil on the limb bone index and femur thickness index are used to indicatethe former research about the Macaca mulatta motion mode and calculate that thefossil macaque may have lived quadrupedally and terrestrially.In a word, Macaca mulatta limb sexual difference is significant that the fore limb ishigher than hind limb; sexual difference of limb proximal and distal variable issignificant; side asymmetry in fore limb is significant, and shows left dominant;asymmetrical variables of the width of bone shaft is significantly higher than thelength. Cross-asymmetry exists in some variables of fore and hind limbs.