Sex Differences an
Sex Differences and the Ordering of Lengths of the Proximal phalanges in Macaca Mulatta
Xiaojin Zhao1a, Fengchan Wang1a, Xuan Zhao1b, Jie Song1a,2, Xiaojing Mao1a,2
1.a.College of Fisheries, b.College of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, Henan, P R. China.2.Faculty of Earth and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, P R. China
Abstract: Background: In accord with past findings, the ordering of lengths of both metapodials for some nonhuman primates was highly similar on the two sides of the body, but the pattern of lengths for these primates was different for the two sexes. Objective: To examine sex differences and the ordering of lengths ofproximal phalanges in Macaca mulatta from the Taihang Mountain in central China. Materials and Methods:The lengths of proximal phalanges of hands and feet were obtained from the 35 skeletons of adult Macaca mulatta, comprising 12 males and 23 females. SPSS (Version 19.0) was used for statistical analysis. Results: ForMacaca mulatta, the lengths of proximal phalanges showed highly significant sex differences (P<0.001); however, no side differences for both hands and both feet were found in the lengths of proximal phalanges. The ordering of lengths of five proximal phalanges in hands, from the longest to shortest, was 3,4>2>5>1, and the ordering of lengths of the proximal phalanges in feet was 3>4>2>5>1. Conclusions: There were obvious sex differences among the lengths of all proximal phalanges (P<0.001), whereas the sex differences of the lengths of proximal phalanges of hands were greater than those of feet in Macaca mulatta.
[Xiaojin Zhao, Fengchan Wang, Xuan Zhao, Jie Song, Xiaojing Mao. Sex Differences and the Ordering of Lengths of the Proximal phalanges in Macaca Mulatta. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):2154-2159] (ISSN:1097-8135).http://www.lifesciencesite.com.
Keyword: Macaca mulatta；proximal phalanges；length；sexual dimorphism；ordering
