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Suspensory behavior

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512: 493: 325:, use their tails for traveling and usually never use their forelimbs for transportation, while some species use both their tails and forelimbs. Suspensory behavior is advantageous for avoiding predators. The quick motions and ability to escape high above the ground enables an avoidance strategy, maintaining survival. While this type of locomotion can be beneficial there can be some consequences when dealing with extreme heights as vigorously moving through the trees allows for more opportunity for injury. The easiest way for animals to avoid this consequence is using their abilities to focus on uninterrupted travel, accuracy and avoiding alternative routes. 403: 334: 358: 474: 49: 435:. Hanging by the tail is very common when foraging which permits the use of the hands and arms to not only grab food but to catch themselves if they were to slip or fall. Suspension allows for fast travel, which is helpful when collecting food as well. Speed allows animals to minimize competition while avoiding predators to ensure they grab as much food as they can in a short period of time. If an animal is in a high tree, they often eat their food then and there to avoid injury and predators. 70: 455: 40:, and bridging. These mechanisms allow larger species to distribute their weight among smaller branches rather than balancing above these weak supports. Primates and sloths are most commonly seen using these behaviours, however, other animals such as bats may be seen hanging below surfaces to obtain food or when resting. 398:
Animals use this type of behavior when crossing between trees and other surfaces. This movement requires the use of the hind limbs to leap across extended areas. Small animals have an easier time leaping between gaps, while larger animals are more cautious due to their weight and typically swing from
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Forelimb-suspend/sit: This is similar to sit/forelimb-suspend except more than half the weight is held by the forelimbs and not the ishchia. The arms of the animal are extended and the remainder of the weight is supported by the ishchia and/or feet. In this position one arm can hang, creating most of
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involves the animal swinging from branch to branch in a sequence motion above the ground in a canopy of trees. Typically these movements involve both arms without the aid of the legs or tail. Tail and hind limb suspension can be used in different situations like feeding or escaping predators during
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consists of moving up or down a vertical surface using all four arms and legs to help move the body upward or downward. There are many different ways in which in animal can climb such as using alternating arms and legs, climbing sideways, fire-pole slides and head or bottom first decline. Vertical
321:. The swinging motion of grabbing branch after branch with alternating hands or launching the body from one support to another losing contact with the support is very common and the most popular form of locomotion among suspensory animals. Some animals such as the 390:, as carrying their entire weight becomes more difficult with size. Also involved with climbing is a "pulling up" motion in which the animal will pull itself above a branch using both of its arms and the hind limbs launch over the branch using a swinging motion. 431:, fruits and other plants are located on small terminal branches and suspension enables animals to access this food while saving time and energy. By suspending below the branch they avoid a greater chance at the branch breaking and are able to keep a steady 316:
Suspensory locomotion aids with reducing path lengths and covering longer distances by moving faster through branches and trees above. The movements of involved in suspensory behavior can be described as being seen most often among
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Manduell, Kirsten L.; Morrogh-Bernard, Helen C.; Thorpe, Susannah K.S. (2011-07-01). "Locomotor behavior of wild orangutans (pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) in disturbed peat swamp forest, Sabangau, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia".
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Wright, Kristin A.; Stevens, Nancy J.; Covert, Herbert H.; Nadler, Tilo (2008-12-01). "Comparisons of Suspensory Behaviors Among Pygathrix cinerea, P. nemaeus, and Nomascus leucogenys in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam".
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behavior that involves hanging or suspension of the body below or among tree branches. This behavior enables faster travel while reducing path lengths to cover more ground when travelling, searching for food and
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a surface. The hind limbs are very important as they provide most of the strength to support the bat. The forelimbs can be used as well, having all four limbs supporting the animal. The head and
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Fei, Hanlan; Ma, Changyong; Bartlett, Thad Q.; Dai, Ran; Xiao, Wen; Fan, Pengfei (4 November 2015). "Feeding Postures of Cao Vit Gibbons (Nomascus nasutus) Living in a Low-Canopy Karst Forest".
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Hunt, Kevin D.; Cant, John G. H.; Gebo, Daniel L.; Rose, Michael D.; Walker, Suzanne E.; Youlatos, Dionisios (1996-10-01). "Standardized descriptions of primate locomotor and postural modes".
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Suspensory behaviour is very important for animals in regards to feeding. It has been reported that suspensory movements make up approximately 25% of all feeding strategies shown in
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Unimanual forelimb-suspend: Suspension using one hand with lack of support from the rest of the body. The humerus is abducted and the elbow is usually extended completely.
180:, however the abducted forelimbs grab a hold of a branch overhead and allow for the body to be stabilized and supports some of this weight that is being put on the ischia. 700:
Vandoros, Jason Demetri; Dumont, Elizabeth Rachel (2004-04-01). "Use of the wings in manipulative and suspensory behaviors during feeding by frugivorous bats".
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combined with suspensory mechanisms are crucial for providing support during feeding so the animal does not fall and risk losing the food, or risking its life.
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Unimanual flexed-elbow-suspend: Suspension with the humerus adducted and the elbow not extended. These parts of the body hold the animals entire weight.
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Animals who exhibit suspensory behaviour have similar mechanisms to perform this action and often involve many different parts of their body like the
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Animals, especially primates, have many different ways to position themselves during suspensory behaviour, and these positions require different
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Selby, Michael S.; Lovejoy, C. Owen (2017-04-01). "Evolution of the hominoid scapula and its implications for earliest hominid locomotion".
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to be repositioned creating more resistance to trans articular tensile stress for suspending below a branch. These animals also have longer
752:"An anatomical and mechanical analysis of the douc monkey (genus Pygathrix), and its role in understanding the evolution of brachiation" 427:
that might be difficult to obtain on foot, while allowing them to cover a large distance at a greater speed. Often in arboreal regions,
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Trunk-vertical-suspend: One or both forelimbs and one or both hind limbs carry the weight. The foot/feet are above the level of the
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Forelimb-suspension/stand: Half of the weight is supported by the two forelimbs that are extended, the other half is supported from
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Arias-Martorell, Julia; Tallman, Melissa; Potau, Josep Maria; Bello-Hellegouarch, Gaëlle; Pérez-Pérez, Alejandro (2015-01-01).
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Riskin, Daniel K.; Bahlman, Joseph W.; Hubel, Tatjana Y.; Ratcliffe, John M.; Kunz, Thomas H.; Swartz, Sharon M. (2009-04-01).
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Forelimb-suspend/lie: suspension of the forelimbs with the back in a horizontal position, as if they were lying on their back.
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to be repositioned dorsally and humeral articulation to be oriented more cranially than the usual lateral placement shown in
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Bimanual flexed-elbow-suspend: similar to unimanual flexed-elbow-suspension, expect both hands are involved, not just one.
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Contralateral forelimb-hind-limb-suspend: suspension with a forelimb and a hind limb on the opposite sides of the body.
1046:"Shape analysis of the proximal humerus in orthograde and semi-orthograde primates: Correlates of suspensory behavior" 662: 612:
Youlatos, Dionisios (2002). "Positional Behavior of Black Spider Monkeys (Ateles paniscus) in French Guiana".
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Ipsilateral forelimb-hind-limb-suspend: suspension with a forelimb and hind limb on the same side of the body.
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a support while one or both of the forelimbs are grasping the support as well, distributing the weight evenly.
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Pronograde tail/quadrumanous-suspend: All five limbs help support the body while the back is horizontal.
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Cling/forelimb-suspend: One of the forelimbs is hanging causing more than half the weight to be put the
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Orthograde tail/quadrumanous-suspend: All five limbs help support the body while the back is vertical.
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Forelimb-suspend: One or both arms is holding all the weight of the animal as it hangs from a branch.
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Tail/hind limb-suspend: Half of the weight is on the tail and the other half on the hind limb(s).
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Tail/forelimb-suspend: Half of the weight is on the tail and the other half on the forelimb(s).
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drastic situations, however the use of the arms is preferred for this type of movement.
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Hind limb-suspend: Suspension from the foot/feet, no support from any other body parts.
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and many other features of their upper body. Typically, these animals have an overall
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Britt, Adam (2000). "Diet and Feeding Behaviour of the Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
920: 657:. D'Août, Kristiaan., Vereecke, Evie E. New York: Springer. 2011. pp. 205–211. 633: 1271: 1217: 1167: 1138: 1118: 1087: 1057: 1001: 952: 900: 808: 763: 709: 621: 436: 146: 142: 110: 1275: 1122: 625: 1297: 1229: 1179: 1130: 1071: 1043: 1013: 966: 912: 820: 777: 721: 672: 460: 1237: 1187: 1079: 974: 828: 785: 729: 479: 322: 74: 53: 69: 540: 350: 203:
Forelimb-suspend/squat: suspension from above but the lower body is in a
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Extended-hind limb-suspend: Knee and hip are extended during suspension.
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Flexed-hind limb-suspend: Knee and the hip are flexed during suspension.
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climbing is the most costly form of locomotion as the animal must defy
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animals. The scapula is also longer, giving these animals a particular
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Sit/forelimb-suspend: Most of the weight of the body is put on the
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Primate locomotion : linking field and laboratory research
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Byron, C. D.; Granatosky, M. C.; Covert, H. H. (2017-12-01).
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Forelimb-hindlimb-suspend: hanging from the arm and foot.
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is longer as well and this helps with the movement of the
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Bimanual forelimb-suspend: suspensions using both hands.
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process which allows for a greater elbow extension.
571: 217:Forelimb-suspend/cling: Hind limbs are flexed and 32:. Different types of suspensory behaviour include 988:Fenton, M. Brock; Crerar, Laura M. (1984-08-24). 1295: 1261: 890: 361:Composite image of a juvenile proboscis monkey ( 153:is small and there is a shorter distance to the 1208:in the Betampona Reserve, Eastern Madagascar". 149:when the arm is moving away from the body. The 699: 261:, with no support from the rest of the body. 200:the weight to be held by the single forelimb. 987: 798: 296:is a vertical upside down behaviour seen in 365:) learning to leap from one tree to another 1160:American Journal of Physical Anthropology 1061: 956: 801:American Journal of Physical Anthropology 767: 756:American Journal of Physical Anthropology 578:(2nd ed.). San Diego : Acad. Press. 308:are usually kept at a 90° or 180° angle. 64: 611: 401: 356: 332: 68: 47: 569: 1296: 745: 743: 741: 739: 328: 300:which involves the use of the feet to 1257: 1255: 1203: 1199: 1197: 1152: 1150: 1148: 1103: 1101: 1099: 1097: 1039: 1037: 1035: 1033: 1031: 886: 884: 882: 880: 878: 876: 874: 872: 870: 868: 866: 864: 862: 860: 858: 649: 647: 645: 643: 607: 605: 603: 601: 599: 597: 595: 1264:International Journal of Primatology 1111:International Journal of Primatology 934: 932: 930: 856: 854: 852: 850: 848: 846: 844: 842: 840: 838: 614:International Journal of Primatology 565: 563: 561: 117:and shoulder shape. Combined, these 101:and a mediolateral expansion of the 736: 406:Feeding while suspended from a rope 13: 1252: 1194: 1145: 1094: 1028: 640: 592: 257:Tail-suspend: suspension from the 14: 1320: 927: 835: 558: 574:Primate adaptation and evolution 510: 491: 472: 453: 1050:American Journal of Primatology 945:Journal of Experimental Biology 702:Journal of Experimental Zoology 43: 981: 792: 693: 419:. Suspension helps them reach 345: 1: 1206:(Varecia variegata variegata) 551: 311: 52:Suspensory behavior seen in 7: 529: 446: 393: 369: 10: 1325: 410: 399:branch to branch instead. 288: 187:and the clinging forelimb. 1276:10.1007/s10764-015-9871-z 1123:10.1007/s10764-008-9319-9 570:Fleagle, John G. (1999). 97:flattening, a shortened 626:10.1023/A:1019602116805 79:Pteropus conspicillatus 685:: CS1 maint: others ( 407: 366: 342: 82: 73:Roosting behaviour in 65:In primates and sloths 61: 405: 360: 336: 72: 51: 994:Journal of Mammalogy 522:Bradypus tridactylus 133:is raised above the 123:infraspinatus muscle 17:Suspensory behaviour 1304:Arboreal locomotion 1210:Folia Primatologica 714:10.1002/jez.a.20040 536:Arboreal locomotion 518:Pale Throated Sloth 329:Types of locomotion 21:arboreal locomotion 1172:10.1002/ajpa.21495 958:10.1242/jeb.026161 905:10.1007/bf02381373 813:10.1002/ajpa.23158 769:10.1002/ajpa.23320 408: 367: 343: 83: 62: 30:avoiding predators 1222:10.1159/000021741 1063:10.1002/ajp.22306 585:978-0-12-260341-9 499:Bornean Orangutan 484:Varecia variegata 58:Varecia variegata 1316: 1309:Eating behaviors 1288: 1287: 1270:(5): 1036–1054. 1259: 1250: 1249: 1201: 1192: 1191: 1154: 1143: 1142: 1105: 1092: 1091: 1065: 1041: 1026: 1025: 985: 979: 978: 960: 936: 925: 924: 888: 833: 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region 96: 95:dorso-ventral 92: 88: 80: 76: 71: 59: 55: 50: 41: 39: 35: 31: 26: 22: 19:is a form of 18: 1267: 1263: 1213: 1209: 1205: 1163: 1159: 1114: 1110: 1053: 1049: 997: 993: 983: 948: 944: 896: 892: 804: 800: 794: 759: 755: 705: 701: 695: 654: 617: 613: 573: 521: 502: 483: 480:Ruffed Lemur 464: 414: 397: 373: 362: 349: 338: 323:platyrrhines 315: 292: 163: 119:morphologies 105:causing the 84: 78: 75:flying foxes 57: 54:ruffed lemur 44:Biomechanics 16: 15: 1117:(6): 1467. 1056:(1): 1–19. 541:Brachiation 351:Brachiation 346:Brachiation 155:elbow joint 111:quadrupedal 34:brachiation 1298:Categories 552:References 441:bipedalism 425:vegetation 423:and other 312:Locomotion 1284:254546412 1230:0015-5713 1180:1096-8644 1131:0164-0291 1072:1098-2345 1014:0022-2372 967:0022-0949 913:0032-8332 821:1096-8644 778:1096-8644 722:1552-499X 681:cite book 673:704395283 388:body mass 207:position. 185:hindlimbs 159:olecranon 127:clavicles 91:shoulders 1246:11002097 1238:10828690 1188:21469074 1080:25219580 975:19282491 921:37235291 893:Primates 829:28128440 786:29023639 730:15039995 634:28478677 546:Climbing 530:See also 447:Examples 417:primates 394:Bridging 375:Climbing 370:Climbing 294:Roosting 219:grasping 212:standing 103:rib cage 38:climbing 1139:9366197 1088:7159162 1022:1381085 433:balance 429:flowers 411:Feeding 380:gravity 319:monkeys 289:In bats 233:tension 178:ischium 170:muscles 145:in the 139:humerus 131:forearm 107:scapula 25:feeding 1282:  1244:  1236:  1228:  1186:  1178:  1137:  1129:  1086:  1078:  1070:  1020:  1012:  973:  965:  919:  911:  827:  819:  784:  776:  728:  720:  671:  661:  632:  582:  421:fruits 1280:S2CID 1242:S2CID 1135:S2CID 1084:S2CID 1018:JSTOR 917:S2CID 630:S2CID 302:grasp 205:squat 166:bones 87:trunk 23:or a 1234:PMID 1226:ISSN 1184:PMID 1176:ISSN 1127:ISSN 1076:PMID 1068:ISSN 1010:ISSN 971:PMID 963:ISSN 909:ISSN 825:PMID 817:ISSN 782:PMID 774:ISSN 726:PMID 718:ISSN 706:301A 687:link 669:OCLC 659:ISBN 580:ISBN 439:and 384:tree 306:neck 298:bats 259:tail 168:and 135:head 1272:doi 1218:doi 1168:doi 1164:145 1119:doi 1058:doi 1002:doi 953:doi 949:212 901:doi 809:doi 805:162 764:doi 760:164 710:doi 622:doi 229:hip 115:arm 1300:: 1278:. 1268:36 1266:. 1254:^ 1240:. 1232:. 1224:. 1214:71 1212:. 1196:^ 1182:. 1174:. 1162:. 1147:^ 1133:. 1125:. 1115:29 1113:. 1096:^ 1082:. 1074:. 1066:. 1054:77 1052:. 1048:. 1030:^ 1016:. 1008:. 998:65 996:. 992:. 969:. 961:. 947:. 943:. 929:^ 915:. 907:. 897:37 895:. 837:^ 823:. 815:. 803:. 780:. 772:. 758:. 754:. 738:^ 724:. 716:. 704:. 683:}} 679:{{ 667:. 642:^ 628:. 618:23 616:. 594:^ 560:^ 89:, 36:, 1286:. 1274:: 1248:. 1220:: 1190:. 1170:: 1141:. 1121:: 1090:. 1060:: 1024:. 1004:: 977:. 955:: 923:. 903:: 831:. 811:: 788:. 766:: 732:. 712:: 689:) 675:. 636:. 624:: 588:. 524:) 520:( 505:) 501:( 486:) 482:( 467:) 463:( 235:. 214:. 81:) 77:( 60:) 56:(

Index

arboreal locomotion
feeding
avoiding predators
brachiation
climbing

ruffed lemur

flying foxes
trunk
shoulders
dorso-ventral
lumbar region
rib cage
scapula
quadrupedal
arm
morphologies
infraspinatus muscle
clavicles
forearm
head
humerus
deltoid muscles
shoulder joint
triceps branchii
elbow joint
olecranon
bones
muscles

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