Three‐dimensional kinematics of capuchin monkey bipedalism

Abstract

Capuchin monkeys are known to use bipedalism when transporting food items and tools. The bipedal gait of two capuchin monkeys in the laboratory was studied with three-dimensional kinematics. Capuchins progress bipedally with a bent-hip, bent-knee gait. The knee collapses into flexion during stance and the hip drops in height. The knee is also highly flexed during swing to allow the foot which is plantarflexed to clear the ground. The forefoot makes first contact at touchdown. Stride frequency is high, and stride length and limb excursion low. Hind limb retraction is limited, presumably to reduce the pitch moment of the forward-leaning trunk. Unlike human bipedalism, the bipedal gait of capuchins is not a vaulting gait, and energy recovery from pendulum-like exchanges is unlikely. It extends into speeds at which humans and other animals run, but without a human-like gait transition. In this respect it resembles avian bipedal gaits. It remains to be tested whether energy is recovered through cyclic elastic storage and release as in bipedal birds at higher speeds. Capuchin bipedalism has many features in common with the facultative bipedalism of other primates which is further evidence for restrictions on a fully upright striding gait in primates that transition to bipedalism. It differs from the facultative bipedalism of other primates in the lack of an extended double-support phase and short aerial phases at higher speeds that make it a run by kinematic definition. This demonstrates that facultative bipedalism of quadrupedal primates need not necessarily be a walking gait.

Bipedal Behaviour in Olive Baboons: Infants versus Adults in a Captive Environment

“…This standard description should not mask the diversity of bipedal modes that functional (biomechanical) investigations have demonstrated at the interspecific, intraspecific and ontogenetic levels [Kimura, 1985[Kimura, , 1991Franzen et al, 2003;Folia Primatol 2013;84:347-361 DOI: 10.1159/000353115 D' Août et al, 2004;Hirasaki et al, 2004;Vereecke et al, 2006;Berillon et al, 2010;Demes, 2011]. In the context of this study, we observed at least 2 submodes of bipedalism, with the trunk highly flexed to almost erect and variable flexion of the limbs.…”

Comparative Anatomy of the Pelvic Vessels in the Bearded Capuchin <b><i>(Sapajus libidinosus)</i></b> and Baboons, Apes and Modern Humans

“…Because capuchins are quadrupedal but frequently walk upright [Fragaszy et al, 2004], they can serve as important models for studies on the evolution of human bipedalism [Demes, 2011]. Intermittent bipedalism requires high metabolic energy [Demes and O'Neill, 2013] particularly when associated with nut cracking and/or other activities [Liu et al, 2009] that represent complex behaviour in processing food [De Moraes et al, 2014].…”

“…Cebus/Sapajus demonstrates high cognitive and manipulatory behaviour [Antinucci and Visalberghi, 1986;Westergaard and Fragaszy, 1987;Garber, 1987;Costello and Fragaszy, 1988;Breseida and Ottoni, 2001;Tavares and Tomaz, 2002;Lima et al, 2003;Waga et al, 2006;Ottoni and Izar, 2008;Liu et al, 2009;De Moraes et al, 2014], as well as intermittent bipedalism [Demes, 2011]. Recent comparative anatomical analyses of bearded capuchins, baboons, chimpanzees and modern humans indicated…”

Anatomia comparativa dos nervos da pelve de macacos-prego (Sapajus sp)

“…Bearded capuchins (Sapajus sp), unexpectedly, share with chimpanzees (Pan) various behavioral features such as high cognitive ability, good memory, tool use with intermittent bipedalism, and social tolerance (ANTINUCCI; VISALBERGHI, 1986;BOESCH;BOESCH, 1990;PHILLIPS, 1998;RYLANDS et al, 2000;TOMAZ, 2002;FRAGASZY et al, 2004;LOPES, 2004;VISALBERGHI et al, 2007;SABBATINI et al, 2008;DEFLER, 2009;MANNU;OTTONI, 2009;DEMES, 2011;DEMES;O´NEILL, 2012 however, their anatomical structures are like those of baboons (AVERSI-FERREIRA et al, 2005, 2010, 2011a, 2011b, 2013, 2014a, 2014b.…”