Gait mechanics of lemurid primates on terrestrial and arboreal substrates

While our data confirm certain aspects of primate gait mechanics (e.g., generally higher hind limb forces), they do not fully support the notion of greater limb compliance. Neither a compliant forelimb on branchlike supports, nor a negative correlation of forelimb force magnitudes with degree of arboreality were observed. Increasing forelimb-to-hind-limb-force-ratios with increasing speed and force magnitudes are also not expected under this paradigm.