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Ungual phalanx biomechanics and locomotor behavior in extant and extinct mammals
Author(s) -
Auerbach Benjamin Miller,
Organ Jason M,
Rose Kenneth D
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a601-c
Subject(s) - fossorial , guild , arboreal locomotion , cursorial , biology , ecology , generalist and specialist species , zoology , habitat , predation
Extant mammals are classified into 4 to 8 locomotor guilds based on habitual behavior. Ungual phalanges are associated with load transmission during these behaviors, and hence may be useful in classifying species' locomotor guilds. This would be especially useful for evaluating fossil taxa. Previous research (MacLeod and Rose, 1993) has associated ungual shape with guild classification, but the biomechanics of ungual phalanges were not evaluated. This study examines osteometric linear distances and cross‐sectional properties of manual ungual phalanges from 42 extant mammal species representing five locomotor guilds. Cross‐sectional properties were examined with a pQCT scanner. Interestingly, fossorial and cursorial guilds, and arboreal and scansorial guilds, yield comparable results. Species classified as fossorial or cursorial have higher ratios of mediolateral to dorsopalmer bending strength compared to arboreal or scansorial species. Similar data for generalist terrestrial species overlap in range between the other locomotor guilds. Comparisons of flexor/extensor lever arm ratios fail to discriminate among taxa, with the exception of fossorial guild members. The results are compared with cross‐sectional properties modeled from external measurements for application to fossil specimens. 15 fossil taxa are examined using these methods to assess possible locomotor guild memberships.