Variation in Pubic Symphysis Fusion Across Primates: Implications for Obstetric Adaptation
While delayed or absent pubic fusion is more prevalent in female primates, suggesting obstetric adaptation, there is no clear relation with childbirth constraints, as fusion is also observed in species experiencing a tight cephalopelvic fit. Other mechanisms might have evolved to facilitate birth in some species, or nonobstetric selective pressures might be counteracting the obstetric advantages of a flexible symphysis. The preservation of an open symphysis throughout life in humans and some other primates, however, can be best interpreted as convergent evolution due to obstetric selection.
Authors
- Eishi Hirasaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7849-1936)
- Laura T. Buck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1768-9049)
- Lia Betti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2895-9718)
- Nicole Torres‐Tamayo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2504-3886)
- Todd C. Rae (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4010-5945)
Institutions
- University of Sussex (GB)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Kyoto University (JP)
- University College London (GB)
- Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Biological Anthropology
- Published
- 2025-02-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.25064
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Pregnancy-related medical research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.64
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Smithsonian Institution
- Leakey Foundation
- Leverhulme Trust
- Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
- University of Cambridge
- University of Oxford
- European Commission
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
- National Institutes of Health
- National Museum of Natural History
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
- Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
- California National Primate Research Center