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'Vančata V, Zlámalová H, Vančatová M, Jebavý L, 1995: Mode and Rate of Postnatal Growth of Macaca mulatta - Basic Adaptive Trends and Sexual Dimorphism. Anthropologie (Brno) 33, 1-2: 29-38'. |
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| Abstract | | ABSTRACTG: rowth studies in primates usually concentrate on the investigation of body mass and, in some cases,
several other parameters such as sitting height. There are only several really complex long-term research projects on
ontogeny. Grant project (206/93/1029) of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic — Complex study of postnatal
ontogeny of higher primates — ranks among such projects. Besides somatic growth, many other aspects of primate
ontogeny are being studied in this pilotproject, like the ontogeny of behaviour and the development of social structure,
reproduction and sex maturation, physiology, biochemistry and ecological and health aspects of growth. The main
task of this study was preparation and verification ofmethodsfor the complex longitudinal study of ontogeny; however,
the pilot study yielded a number of quite original data. The longitudinal study currently includes 73 regularly-examined
individuals subdivided into three age groups: A) a group of 22 individuals born in 1991 and 1992 (15females and 7
males); B) a group of 24 individuals (10 males, 14 females) bom in 1993; C) a group of 27 individuals born in 1994
(15 males and 12 females). A full set of 48 measurements is taken for each individual. This study deals only with the
analysis of growth trends and growth velocity ofoverall body size and individual body segments. For these purposes,
the polynomial fits for the most important measurements and indices are analyzed. We have made a detailed analysis
of changes of general body size parameters (body mass and body height) for various age intervals. The analysis of
development of individual body segments is also presented. According to our results, the head segment develops
relatively very independently, with steady and marked differences between the sexes. The trunk and limb parameters
have developed in a similar way, and their polynomial fits significantly differfrom those of head. The head segment,
trunk segment, lower limb segment and upper limb segment have specific modes and rates of growth. The most important
result is the indication ofgrowth acceleration infemales in the pre-puberty and early puberty period. This phenomenon
resembles the prepubertal spurts in girls. It is dificult to give a precise interpretation of this growth pattern because
there are in fact no systematic studies of the maturation process in higher primates. Compared to the other rhesus
monkey groups examined, the group from Konårovice is the most gracile, with a medium sexual dimorphism. The
population studied by van Wagenen and Cathpole is more heavy, with lower sexual dimorphism. Females from the
Gavan and Huthchinson sample are comparable in body mass, but the males are significantly more heayy; sexual
dimorphism is very marked. One important fact results from the comparison Of ontogenetic development of recent
man and rhesus macaques up to the first stage of sexual maturation. While there are marked differences in body mass
growth curves, the body height changes are relatively very similar. | | | | Keywords | | Ontogeny - Growth trends - Sexual dimorphism - Macaca mulatta - Longitudinal study | | |
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