A study of the postures and locomotor modes of Alouatta palliata was conducted from mid-June to mid-September 1974 on Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone. Activities, postures, and locomotor modes were recorded relative to the position of the animals in the trees and to the size and angularity of the support structures. Most activities, in particular feeding, occurred on small, flexible, nearly horizontal supports on the periphery of tree crowns. Differential use of the various zones of the tree crowns and support size classes were noted among several age-sex categories.

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Feet of two-toed sloths (Choloepus) are long, narrow, hook-like appendages with only three functional digits, numbers II, III, and IV; Rays I and V are represented by metatarsals. Proximal phalanges of complete digits are little more than proximal and distal articulating surfaces. All interphalangeal joints are restricted, by interlocking surfaces, to flexion and extension. Ankle and transverse tarsal joints, however, allow extreme flexion and inversion of foot. Powerful digital flexion is augmented by several muscles from extensor compartment of leg. Intrinsic foot musculature is reduced to flexors and extensors but these, with the exception of lumbricals, are large and well developed. Choloepus uses its feet much like hooks with distal phalanges and covering claws forming the "hook" element. These hook-like appendages are seemingly best suited for supports less than 50 mm in diameter suggesting that two-toed sloths may prefer supports of this size in their natural habitat.

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Hands of two-toed sloths (Choloepus) are long, narrow, hook-like apparatuses with only two functional digits (II and III); rays I and IV are represented only by metacarpals. The proximal phalanges of digits II and III are shortened to essentially proximal and distal articulating surfaces, and all but distal interphalangeal joints of these digits are restricted by interlocking surfaces to minimal ranges of flexion and extension. Several intercarpal joints and the wrist joint, however, allow wide ranges of movement in several axes. Wide excursion at the wrist is permitted by an extremely lax joint capsule, the manner of insertion of several prime movers of the carpus, and the reduced participation of the ulna in the wrist joint. Several extrinsic digital muscles, particularly extensors, are absent and others have unusual actions. Intrinsic musculature consists primarily of mm. interossei and m. extensor digitorum brevis, although other, inconstant muscles do occur. Hands of Choloepus are used as flexible hooks on supports less than 52 mm in diameter and as fixed grapnels on larger supports. In both cases, distal phalanges (and covering claws) form the "hook" element. Whereas bare volar pads seem to be adjunctive on supports smaller than 52 mm in diameter, they are essential on those larger than 65 mm. Two-toed sloths may prefer supports 50 mm in diameter or smaller. The potential importance of vines as supports is discussed.