Anatomical Correlates to Nectar Feeding among the Strepsirrhines of Madagascar : Implications for Interpreting the Fossil Record
Joint Authors
Muchlinski, Magdalena N.
Perry, Jonathan M. G.
Source
Anatomy Research International
Issue
Vol. 2011, Issue 2011 (31 Dec. 2011), pp.1-17, 17 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2011-10-17
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
17
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
One possible ecological scenario for the origin of primates is the archaic pollination and coevolution hypothesis.
Its proponents contend that the consumption of nectar by some early primates and the resulting cross-pollination is an example of coevolution that drove adaptive radiations in some primates.
This hypothesis is perhaps ecologically sound, but it lacks the morphology-behavior links that would allow us to test it using the fossil record.
Here we attempt to identify cranial adaptations to nectar feeding among the strepsirrhines of Madagascar in order to provide such links.
Many Malagasy strepsirrhines are considered effective cross-pollinators of the flowers they feed from, and nectar consumption represents as much as 75% of total feeding time.
Previous studies identified skeletal correlates to nectar feeding in the crania of nonprimate mammals; from these, nine cranial measurements were chosen to be the focus of the present study.
Results indicate that Cheirogaleus, Varecia, and Eulemur mirror other nectar-feeding mammals in having elongated crania and/or muzzles.
These strepsirrhines might be effective cross-pollinators, lending support to the coevolution hypothesis.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Muchlinski, Magdalena N.& Perry, Jonathan M. G.. 2011. Anatomical Correlates to Nectar Feeding among the Strepsirrhines of Madagascar : Implications for Interpreting the Fossil Record. Anatomy Research International،Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-17.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-467319
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Muchlinski, Magdalena N.& Perry, Jonathan M. G.. Anatomical Correlates to Nectar Feeding among the Strepsirrhines of Madagascar : Implications for Interpreting the Fossil Record. Anatomy Research International No. 2011 (2011), pp.1-17.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-467319
American Medical Association (AMA)
Muchlinski, Magdalena N.& Perry, Jonathan M. G.. Anatomical Correlates to Nectar Feeding among the Strepsirrhines of Madagascar : Implications for Interpreting the Fossil Record. Anatomy Research International. 2011. Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-17.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-467319
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-467319