Miocene Lorisids – the Foot Evidence

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Abstract
The locomotor pattern of the ancestral lorisid is of particular interest since extant galagines and lorisines contrast dramatically in their movements. The foot bones of three lorisid species are known from the early Miocene of Kenya and a new talus from Koru is described in this paper. The movement patterns of the early Miocene lorisids from Kenya are most similar to the more generalized movements of the cheirogaleids, which often move by quadrupedalism, leaping, climbing and suspension. The foot evidence indicates that lorisines have evolved from a leaping ancestry before they adopted their slow-climbing mode of travel and that the talus from Koru and the calcaneus attributed to Komba robustus exhibit lorisine-like features.

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