A. Femoralis in the small Green Monkey(Cercopithecus aethiops sabeus)

The small Green Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabeus) in large groups inhabits the African savannah. The animals delivered to us were from East Africa, that is from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The length of the animal is 110 cm, and the tail itself is 50 cm long. They can often be seen in Zoos. According to data, mostly by zoo gardens, these monkeys live for about 15 to 17 years, exceptionally for 20 years. The objective of our work was to investigate a part of their cardiovascular system so in that way to contribute to a better knowledge of this animal body structure and accordingly to comparative anatomy in general. The investigation included 6 Small Green Monkeys, of both gender, 3-4 years old, body weight 2000-3000 grams, obtained from The Institute for Virusology, vaccines and serums from Belgrade. For obtaining the hindlimb arterial vascularization, after exsanguination of the animal, contrast mass of gelatin coloured with tempera was injected into the abdominal aorta. After injecting, the blood vessels were prepared and photographed. In the Small Green Monkey, femoral artery (A. femoralis) is an continuation of the external iliac artery (A. iliaca externa). The branches of the femoral artery are: A. profunda femoris, A. saphena, A. genus descendens and A. caudalis femoralis. A. profunda femoris separates to A. circumflexa femoris lateralis, Ramus muscularis and A. circumflexa femoris medialis. In humans A. femoralis branches into: A. epigastrica superficialis, A. circumflexa ilium superficialis, Aa. pudendae externae, A. profunda femoris and A. genus descendens (A. descendens genus). A. profunda femoris branches into: A. circumflexa femoris lateralis, A. circumflexa femoris medialis and Aa. perforantes. In domestic animals, mammals, the branches of the femoral artery (A. femoralis) are: A. circumflexa femoris lateralis, A. saphena, A. genus descendens and Aa. caudales femoris In the Small Green Monkey, humans and domestic mammals A. femoralis branches into A. genus descendens. The femoral artery of both Small Green Monkey and humans branches into A. profunda femoris. In the Small Green Monkey and domestic mammala, A. femoralis branches into A. saphena and A. caudalis femoris, that is Aa. caudales femoris in domestic mammals, while in humans it branches into A. epigastrica superficialis, A. circumflexa ilium superficialis and Aa. pudendae externae. The branches of A. profunda femoris in the Small Green Monkey and humans are: A. circumflexa femoris lateralis, A. circumflexa femoris medialis, in the Small Green Monkey also Ramus muscularis, and in humans Aa. Perforantes, too. In domestic mammals A. circumflexa femoris lateralis is a branch of A. femoralis. Based on the results of our studying of the Small Green Monkey femoral artery (A. femoralis), we have concluded that some blood vessels branch from A. femoralis in the same way as in humans, and some as in domestic animals - mammals.

Locomotor Anatomy and Behavior of Patas Monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) with Comparison to Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops)

Patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) living in African savanna woodlands and grassland habitats have a locomotor system that allows them to run fast, presumably to avoid predators. Long fore- and hindlimbs, long foot bones, short toes, and a digitigrade foot posture were proposed as anatomical correlates with speed. In addition to skeletal proportions, soft tissue and whole body proportions are important components of the locomotor system. To further distinguish patas anatomy from other Old World monkeys, a comparative study based on dissection of skin, muscle, and bone from complete individuals of patas and vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) was undertaken. Analysis reveals that small adjustments in patas skeletal proportions, relative mass of limbs and tail, and specific muscle groups promote efficient sagittal limb motion. The ability to run fast is based on a locomotor system adapted for long distance walking. The patas’ larger home range and longer daily range than those of vervets give them access to highly dispersed, nutritious foods, water, and sleeping trees. Furthermore, patas monkeys have physiological adaptations that enable them to tolerate and dissipate heat. These features all contribute to the distinct adaptation that is the patas monkeys’ basis for survival in grassland and savanna woodland areas.

Dominância e atracção social num grupo de macacos-verdes (Cercopithecus aethiops) em cativeiro

Dados de interacções de catagem, recolhidos durante quatro meses de observações directas, de um grupo de macacos-vervet (Cercopithecus aethiops) em cativeiro, no Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa, foram utilizados para testar o modelo clássico de Seyfarth (1977) de atracção por indivíduos dominantes. Cada indivíduo foi observado um total de 10.5 horas, através de amostragens focais. Todas as ocorrências de comportamentos agonísticos foram também registadas. A análise dos resultados confirmou que nas fêmeas a catagem é dirigida para cima na hierarquia, apesar de a troca de catagem por apoio agonístico não ser o princípio subjacente a esta atracção. Considerando a teoria dos mercados biológicos, o facto de as díades serem altamente não recíprocas em termos do investimento feito na catagem, parece sugerir que outras comodidades, para além do apoio agonístico, estão a ser trocadas.