Vol. 47 No. 6, 2008

Heterochrony in Hybrid Macaques

Nicole D. Taylor¹ and Michael A. Schillaci^2,*

¹Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
²Department of Social Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada

Nicole D. Taylor and Michael A. Schillaci (2008) In this report, we examine the effects of hybridization on growth allometry and the heterochronic growth process in a sample of hybrids of Macaca mulatta.  Comparisons of regression parameters describing the linear relationships of age with body weight and body length, and the allometric relationship between body weight and body length indicate that hybridization may be associated with predisplacement (body weight and length to age) and hypermorphosis (length to weight) in males.  Only the comparison of the male weight-to-age regression was statistically significant.  Female hybrids exhibited a visible pattern of acceleration (body weight and length to age), or slight acceleration coupled with slight hypermorphosis (length to weight).  None of the female patterns, however, were statistically significant.  The results of our study indicate hybridization can affect growth patterns, although the magnitude of the difference varies and may be sex specific.

Key words: Ontogeny, Growth allometry, Hybridization, Primates, Heterosis.

*Correspondence: Tel: 1-416-2872877.   Fax: 1-416-2877283.  E-mail:schillaci@utsc.utoronto.ca