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'Zlámalová H, Vančata V, Jebavý L, Vančatová M, 1995: Ontogeny and Growth of Higher Primates - A Somatometric Approach. Anthropologie (Brno) 33, 1-2: 39-46'. |
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| Abstract | | The studies on non-human primate growth and somatic development are still relatively rare, and there is
no comprehensive longitudinal study. The methodical problems in this type ofprimate research seems to be the most
important reasonfor this. Despite the effort to integrate research into anthropology and primatology, anthropological
and primatological research is not suficiently interconnected. The persistence of marked differences in methods and
methodology in both disciplines of ontogenetic research is probably the cause of this. Numerous anthropological,
biomedical and evolutionary studies have compared man and primates, including their ontogeny. However, there is no
consistent framework for such comparative studies. Both human and non-human primate ontogeny have numerous
specific as well as common features, but they are not defined by comparable quantitative data. The research project
entitled "Complex study of postnatal ontogeny of higher primates —b asic adaptive processes, social structure, and
sexual dimorphism ", co-ordinated by VåclavV andata( GrantAgency of the Czech Republic —g rant project No. 20693/
1029), is the first part of a longitudinal study of higher primate ontogeny which should yield representative data on
primate ontogeny. The main subject of the study is a captive group ofMacaca mulatta living in the Primate Center of
VÜFB Konårovice. Currently, there is a population of 169 macaques living in 8 groups with a semi-natural (aged)
multimale social structure. New groups are created after weaning at approx. 4—8m onths of life. Three groups of
macaques (73 individuals) have been included in the longitudinal complex study to date. The measuring is done by
Helena Zlämalovå, who is the author ofa modification of the standard anthropometric proceduresfor primates. Some
modifications are very specific, and the technique of measuring is different from that of analogical anthropometric
measurements in man. Standardisation of the position of the body and individual segments was thefirst and main task
of using somatometry methods in primates. We have measured 48 metrical traits: body mass, body height, sitting
height, 9 dimensions of the head, and 15 traits of the upper limbs, 12 of the lower limbs and 9 of the trunk. Body height
has never been measured in non-humanp rimates, but is very importantf or the description of the linearity of the
primate body and alsofor comparison of the ontogeny of non-human primates and man. The cross-sectional shape of
the chest has been described by kyrtometry. This study should create a basicframeworkforfuture comparative studies
of monkeys and man. The main goal of this contribution is to demonstrate the methods and their use in practice, and
0 to indicate thefuture prospects of somatometry in research into primate ontogeny. Thefirst complete results of a pilot
study on the somatic development of rhesus macaques up to the maturation period are analysed. At present we have
suficiént data from a longitudinal study of three groups of Macaca mulatta, which enable us to describe the somatic
development of macaques up to three years of age. We can analyse not only the development of body size but also of
individual body segments. Thefirst results of an analysis of the ontogeny of the chest crossection will be presented. One
Of the most important tasks of the pilot study, the application of the modified anthropometric method in primate
research, has been fulfilled: modified somatometry of macaques seems to have great value for the description of
growth and sexual differentiation. The sample group, measured up to 40 months of age, proves the methods to be
reliable and confidently precise. Some specific measurements like body height appear to be very important for comparative
studies of the ontogeny of body size and proportions in man and non-human primates. The period ofmeasurement
seems to be suncient and representative.
| | | | Keywords | | Ontogeny - Growth - Somatometry - Macaca mulatta - Longitudinal study | | |
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