STUDY OF MONKEY, APE AND HUMAN MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY RELATING TO STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE; PHASE 2: FACTORS IN THE POSTURE AND GRASPING STRENGTH OF MONKEYS, APES, AND MAN
Abstract
Maximum suspension time from a parallel rod for infant primates, including humans (155 seconds, two-handed), chimpanzees (5 minutes, one-handed), and rhesus monkeys (33 minutes, one-handed) approximately equals or exceeds that of adults of the same species, remarkably. Interspecific and interage differences are ascribable to geometrical similitude, because, with morphological proportionality and physiological equivalence, larger animals are relatively weaker. Equally perplexing, the legs and feet of gibbons are proportionately less massive and architecturally more poorly constructed for supporting strength than those of great apes, yet gibbons walk erect with great frequency and duration; the same surprising contrastists between immature and adult pongids. In both instances geometrical similitude is operative, with optimum form only partially compensating for the handicap of larger body-size. These analyses also provide the key to the interpretation of many other phenomena of primate form and function.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0412453
Entities
People
- William E. Edwards