Do versatile lemurs differ from patas monkeys in their turning dynamics?
The major difference between the two species is the force distribution between forelimbs and hindlimbs that was discussed earlier. In addition, the limb use pattern by lemurs is more selective during turning than that by the patas monkeys. Whereas the three lemurs are similar to each other in limb preferences, the two patas monkeys differ from one another in some aspects of their turning strategies. The male patas monkey frequently used the outer hindlimb to realign its body’s longitudinal axis with the new direction of movement, whereas the female patas monkey never did. Although they exhibit comparatively more selective limb use than the patas monkeys, the range and variability in mediolateral force magnitudes is higher in the lemurs. The locomotor repertoire of the ring-tailed lemur is highly versatile, whereas that of the patas monkey is considerably more restricted and arguably the most stereotypic among primate species. Versatile and particularly arboreal locomotion has been rela
