Primate Comparative Anatomy / Gebo, Daniel L.

Why do orangutan arms closely resemble human arms? What is the advantage to primates of having long limbs? Why do primates have forward-facing eyes? Answers to questions such as these are usually revealed by comparative studies of primate anatomy.

In this heavily illustrated, up-to-date textbook, primate anatomist Daniel L. Gebo provides straightforward explanations of primate anatomy that move logically through the body plan and across species. Including only what is essential in relation to soft tissues, the book relies primarily on bony structures to explain the functions and diversity of anatomy among living primates. Ideal for college and graduate courses, Gebo s book will also appeal to researchers in the fields of mammalogy, primatology, anthropology, and paleontology.

Included in this book are discussions of:

Phylogeny
Adaptation
Body size
The wet- and dry-nosed primates
Bone biology
Musculoskeletal mechanics
Strepsirhine and haplorhine heads
Primate teeth and diets
Necks, backs, and tails
The pelvis and reproduction
Locomotion
Forelimbs and hindlimbs
Hands and feet
Grasping toes