Boyer diss 2009 1046..

Thus, it is imperative that more skeletal materal for Plesiadapis be recovered and
described. Likewise, more information on other plesiadapiforms and larger, more diverse
comparative samples should be assembled and analyzed. Uncertainty acknowledged, it
can be said that appendicular postcranial morphology of P. cookei is pervasively
suggestive of a committed arboreal lifestyle, although “sloth-like” suspensory postures
were probably used infrequently, if ever. A natural and possibly frequently used posture
is illustrated in Figure 6.1. The axial skeleton does not contradict an arboreal habitus,
although it was unlike that of many suspensory animals.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am grateful to P. Gingerich, G. Gunnell, and J. Bloch for the opportunity to lead
the study and description of UM 87990. P. Gingerich and W. Sanders facilitated and
oversaw the production and provision of high quality casts of this specimen. S. Judex
and C. Rubin provided HRxCT scans at the Center for Biotechnology of the Department
of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University. J. Groenke, J. Georgi and staff of
the CT lab at Stony Brook University provided medical grade CT scans of the skeleton of
UM 87990. J. Sertich of Stony Brook University provided access to a camera. S.
Maiolino of Stony Brook University provided measurements on distal phalanges. M.
Godinot, P. Tassy and C. Sagne of MNHN, and M. Pellouin provided access to important
comparative specimens of Plesiadapis tricuspidens and Plesiadapis n. sp. S. Chester, C.
Gilbert and E. Sargis of Yale University helped with access to comparative specimens.
This research was enhanced by discussions with J. Bloch, P. Gingerich, M. Godinot, J.
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