Phalanges are bones located in hand or foot fingers. They allow these structures to remain stable and differ depending on the type of locomotion of the animal. For instance in arboreal animals, such as tree-dwelling species, phalanges often exhibit adaptations to facilitate grasping and climbing. These adaptations may include elongated and flexible phalanges with specialized joints, allowing for a greater range of motion and dexterity in manipulating objects or gripping branches. These features are essential for navigating the complex environment and maintaining stability while moving on trees. The species is unidentified.
It was scanned with an Artec Spider by undergraduate students from the Maastricht Science Programme at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University.
Almecija, S., Alba, D. M., & Moya-Sola, S. (2009). Pierolapithecus and the functional morphology of Miocene ape hand phalanges: paleobiological and evolutionary implications. Journal of Human Evolution, 57(3), 284-297.
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