Palatal growth rates in Macaca nemestrina and Papio cynocephalus

A longitudinal study consisting of 38 unrelated Macaca nemestrina and 16 Papio cynocephalus monkeys are investigated for palatal changes during the first two and a half years of life. The central problem is to ascertain whether there are any significant differences between the two genera regarding their relative growth rates. In order to examine this question, the amount of sexual dimorphism in absolute size was determined. There was no sex difference in palatal dimensions within the species but there were marked size differences between the groups. The relative growth rates present another story. There are no significant sex or intergeneric differences in growth rates. The genera are different in absolute size but they grow at about the same relative rates. These rates represent a decelerating curve in both genera.