Keep Calm and Chew On: A Comparison of Dietary Adaptations in Indri indri and Loris tardigradus
Poster Number
27
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Dorothy Dechant
Faculty Mentor Department
Dentistry
Abstract/Artist Statement
Prosimians are a group of primates that retain a suite of primitive traits not found in monkeys or apes. The purpose of this study is to compare two prosimians in the families Lorisidea and Indridae. The species under comparison are the indri (Indri indri) of Madagascar and the red slender loris (Loris tardigradus) of Sri Lanka and southern India. Emphasis is placed on how the cranial and dental anatomies of I. indri and L. tardigradus reflect their dietary preferences and behavior. The study was conducted using one sample skull for each species. Various cranial and dental features were measured and compared. A wide body of literature was also used to compare the ecology, life history, behavior, diet, and locomotion of these species. I. indri is a large, diurnal animal and relies heavily on young foliage for sustenance. In contrast, L. tardigradus is one of the smallest of the lorisines and is primarily nocturnal and insectivorous. It was determined that the data and observations reflect the folivorous diet of I. indri and the insectivorous diet of L. tardigradus. I. indri has dentition designed for crushing and grinding while L. tardigradus has dentition designed to puncture and pierce the exoskeletons of insects. These species also have digestive systems, temporalis muscle configurations, and facial features that reflect their different adaptations.
Location
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Start Date
20-4-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
20-4-2013 3:00 PM
Keep Calm and Chew On: A Comparison of Dietary Adaptations in Indri indri and Loris tardigradus
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Prosimians are a group of primates that retain a suite of primitive traits not found in monkeys or apes. The purpose of this study is to compare two prosimians in the families Lorisidea and Indridae. The species under comparison are the indri (Indri indri) of Madagascar and the red slender loris (Loris tardigradus) of Sri Lanka and southern India. Emphasis is placed on how the cranial and dental anatomies of I. indri and L. tardigradus reflect their dietary preferences and behavior. The study was conducted using one sample skull for each species. Various cranial and dental features were measured and compared. A wide body of literature was also used to compare the ecology, life history, behavior, diet, and locomotion of these species. I. indri is a large, diurnal animal and relies heavily on young foliage for sustenance. In contrast, L. tardigradus is one of the smallest of the lorisines and is primarily nocturnal and insectivorous. It was determined that the data and observations reflect the folivorous diet of I. indri and the insectivorous diet of L. tardigradus. I. indri has dentition designed for crushing and grinding while L. tardigradus has dentition designed to puncture and pierce the exoskeletons of insects. These species also have digestive systems, temporalis muscle configurations, and facial features that reflect their different adaptations.