Lower Levels of Vestibular Developmental Stability in Slow-Moving than Fast-Moving Primates

Abstract

The vestibular system of the mammalian inner ear senses angular and linear velocity of the head and enables animals to maintain their balance. Vestibular anatomy has been studied extensively in order to link its structure to particular kinds of locomotion. Available evidence indicates that, in primates, slow-moving species show higher levels of vestibular variation than fast-moving taxa. We analysed intraspecific morphological variation and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) levels in the semicircular canal systems of six species of lorisiform primates: three slow-moving lorisids and three fast-moving galagids. Our results showed clear differences in levels of intraspecific variation between slow-moving and fast-moving taxa. Higher levels of variation were responsible for deviations from coplanarity for synergistic pairs of canals in slower taxa. Lorisids also presented higher levels of FA than galagids. FA is a better indicator of agility than intraspecific variation. These results suggest that in order to function efficiently in fast taxa, semicircular canal systems must develop as symmetrically as possible, and should minimise the deviation from coplanarity for synergistic pairs. Higher levels of variation and asymmetry in slow-moving taxa may be related to lower levels of stabilising selection on the vestibular system, linked to a lower demand for rapid postural changes.