Positional behavior and substrate use of Micromys minutus (Rodentia: Muridae): insights for understanding primate origins.

J Hum Evol

Centro de Antropología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apartado 66.755, Caracas 1061-A, Venezuela.

Published: February 2013

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origins of primates, suggesting evolutionary scenarios that are usually paralleled to modern mammalian models that partly simulate the morpho-behavioral apomorphies of primates. The current study examines substrate use and positional behavior of tiny-sized Eurasian harvest mice (Micromys minutus) as living models for inferring the evolution of versatile behavior, flexible branch use and pedal grasping in early small-sized primates. Micromys exhibits a diverse locomotor repertoire composed of clambering and climbing, and uses postural modes requiring secure pedal grasping. It also makes considerable use of fine flexible substrates of various inclinations during both feeding/foraging and traveling. This profile seems to represent an intermediate step between stage 2 (Tupaia-stage) and stage 3 (Caluromys-stage) in Sargis et al.'s (2007) primate evolutionary scenario. Furthermore, our findings suggest that tiny size in itself brings a unique level of flexibility in posture and locomotion that has heretofore been underappreciated in the primate evolution literature.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2012.10.006DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

positional behavior
8
micromys minutus
8
pedal grasping
8
behavior substrate
4
substrate micromys
4
minutus rodentia
4
rodentia muridae
4
muridae insights
4
insights understanding
4
understanding primate
4

Similar Publications

Dynamical complexity of postural control system in autism spectrum disorder: a feasibility study of linear and non-linear measures in posturographic analysis of upright posture.

J Neuroeng Rehabil

December 2024

Section of Physiology, Laboratory of Neuro-Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy.

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication with restricted and repetitive behavior. Postural and motor disturbances occur more often in ASD, in comparison to typically developing subjects, affecting the quality of life. Linear and non-linear indexes derived from the trajectory of the center of pressure (COP) while subjects stand on force platforms are commonly used to assess postural stability.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and functional impairments. Despite extensive research, its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, and effective treatments are limited. This study explored the therapeutic potential of agarwood in AD by integrating network pharmacology, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and single-cell expression analysis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mechanism of differentiated and targeted catalysis in complex lipid system under lipase and lipoxygenase mediation.

Food Chem

December 2024

School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Marine Food Processing & Safety Control, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China. Electronic address:

The regulation of reaction rate differentiation, catalytic precursor differentiation, and end-product differentiation during enzyme-mediated reactions within complex lipid systems is a key area of research in flavor regulation. A multilayer lipid oxidation model, utilizing Plaice bone oil (PBO), lipase, and lipoxygenase, was employed to investigate oxidation differences between various lipids and corresponding flavor formation patterns. Lipase treatment resulted in higher levels of non‑oxygenated volatile compounds and saturated aldehydes, whereas lipoxygenase treatment increased oxygenated compounds, particularly (E)-2-hexenal, 1-penten-3-one, and 2-pentylfuran.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Previous computed tomography studies have reported that the superior mesenteric artery is often located ventrally to the superior mesenteric vein; however, the precise location of the peripheral jejunal arteriovenous system is unknown. This study investigated the arteriovenous positioning of the free jejunal flaps during reconstructive surgery.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 78 patients who underwent free jejunal flap reconstruction between June 2021 and May 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reactions are one of the fundamental energy transformation reactions in catalysis and biological process. The combining ESIPT with the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) brings the richness of optical, photoelectronic performances to certain functional compounds. Delineating the mechanism of ESIPT + TICT reactions and further understanding why a specific functional group dominates are fundamentally crucial for the design and application of the functionally photoelectric materials.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!