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The evolution of large body size in orangutans: A model for hominoid divergence
Author(s) -
Wheatley Bruce P.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.1350130308
Subject(s) - extant taxon , foraging , hominidae , biology , divergence (linguistics) , evolutionary biology , ecomorphology , pongidae , paleontology , ecology , biological evolution , habitat , linguistics , philosophy , genetics
Abstract Recent Miocene fossil discoveries of large hominoids resemble orangutans. Since the evolution of large body size was functionally related to a powerful masticatory system in Miocene ape radiations, a better understanding of adaptations in extant orangutans will be informative of hominoid evolution. It is suggested here, based on the behavioral ecology of extant orangutans, that foraging energetics and large body size are tied to a dietary shift that provided access to and utilization of resources not generally available to other primates.