SEX-DIFFERENCES IN THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN OF GOMBE CHIMPANZEES

Male and female chimpanzees from Gombe National Park, Tanzania (Pan tr oglodytes schweinfurthii) differ in live body weights but not in crani al capacity or fore-and hindlimb long bone lengths. Skeletal dimension s of the limbs and vertebral column indicate a mosaic of sex differenc es. Vertebral column measurements generally are greater in males. Whil e linear measurements identify differences in the breadth and depth of the lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae, areal assessments sh ow significant differences in weight-bearing surfaces throughout the t horacic and lumbar segments. These can be interpreted in terms of dist ribution of weight and body composition (i.e. amount of musculature).