Revista de Morfología y Anatomía

Comparative Study of the Muscles of Mastication in Anthropoid Primates

Abstract

Elizabeth Steell

Anthropoid primates have evolved unique adaptations in their muscles of mastication in response to their diverse feeding habits. For example, some primates, such as colobus monkeys, have elongated and slender temporalis muscles, which are likely adaptations to their specialized diet of leaves and other tough plant material. Other primates, such as baboons and gorillas, have larger and more robust muscles of mastication, which are likely adaptations to their diet of harder and tougher plant material.