Pedal grasping in an arboreal rodent relates to above-branch behavior on slender substrates

摘要: In order to exploit the three-dimensional, discontinuous and unstable arboreal milieu, most mammals employ efficient foot (pedal) grasping that establishes firm contact with substrate enables secure safe locomotion postures. Such pedal grasp can be performed in variable ways relation characteristics. investigate interplay between modes, locomotor postural behavior, size inclination mammals, we filmed quantitatively analyzed these behaviors captive African woodland dormice. Our observations revealed dormice exhibited a flexible repertoire, mainly on small horizontal substrates. Hallucal was main mode associated walk, clamber stand small- medium-sized substrates, whereas claws were commonly used during vertical climb cling large These results clearly demonstrate importance of hallucal for balancing above, not below, substrates moderate inclinations. Therefore, assert its positional behavior may have been fundamental differentiation successful radiation virtually all early sought refuge tree canopies, enabling utilization branch niche. Evidence suggests extant rodents offer useful functional morphology evidence transitional stages lead specialists, euprimates included, research toward this direction has much our understanding evolutionary adaptations by small-bodied mammals.