Anthropometric Measures of Elite Indian Archer: Identification of Features for Talent Development

Introduction: The motive of this study was to determine anthropometric characteristics which could institute the type of physique and body type required to excel in archery. Methods: 33 elite Indian archers, both men and women, from National and International levels, were studied. Demographic information using the interview method and anthropometric measurements was collected from the players. Various indices were further calculated and then correlated with the players’ performance in 70m and 50m events using recurve and compound bow, respectively, with the help of Pearson correlation. Results: The average age of the Indian Archers was 18.3±1.3 years. The average height and weight of the Archers were 167.2 cm (± 6.9) and 63.2kg (± 10.2). The average BMI of the Archers was 22.5 (± 3.1 kg/m2). Statistically, a positive correlation was seen between the individual score and the poundage of the bow used. Poundage, in turn, correlated with the hand index, foot index, and robusticity. Conclusion: The present study has focused on all possible morphological parameters required to excel in archery, and the results depict that all individuals had long arms, narrow chests, and long hands, which added to their advantage in the game. This is also the first scientific study that has focused on the morphological parameters required for excelling in archery.Introducción: El motivo de este estudio fue determinar características antropométricas que pudieran instituir el tipo de físico y tipo corporal requerido para sobresalir en el tiro con arco. Métodos: Se estudiaron 33 arqueros indios de élite, tanto hombres como mujeres, de nivel nacional e internacional. Se recopiló de los jugadores tanto información demográfica mediante el método de entrevista como medidas antropométricas. Se calcularon además varios índices y luego se correlacionaron con el rendimiento de los jugadores en eventos de 70 y 50 metros utilizando arco recurvo y compuesto respectivamente con la ayuda de la correlación de Pearson. Resultados: La edad promedio de los arqueros indios fue de 18,3±1,3 años. La altura y el peso promedio de los arqueros fueron 167,2 cm (± 6,9) y 63,2 kg (± 10,2). El IMC promedio de los Arqueros fue de 22,5 (± 3,1 kg/m2). Estadísticamente, se observó una correlación positiva entre la puntuación individual y el peso del arco utilizado. El peso, a su vez, tuvo correlación con el índice de la mano, el índice del pie y la robustez. Conclusión: El presente estudio se ha centrado en todos los parámetros morfológicos posibles necesarios para sobresalir en el tiro con arco y los resultados muestran que todos los individuos tenían brazos largos, pechos estrechos y manos largas, lo que aumentaba su ventaja en el juego. Este es también el primer tipo de estudio en un frente científico que se ha centrado en los parámetros morfológicos necesarios para sobresalir en el tiro con arco

First report of food sharing among Nicobar long-tailed macaques

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Quaternary International on 04/12/2020, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2020.11.049 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.The sharing of food is an essential component of human societies and has likely played a key role for the evolution of several human traits such as reduced sexual dimorphism, a more flexible maturational pace in relation to environmental variation and an increase in human tolerance and co-operation. For this reason, the investigation of the evolutionary origins of food sharing in humans has been a central topic in biological anthropology. Since behavior does not fossilize, investigations on food sharing in non-human primates are key in providing a window into the evolution of food sharing and co-operation in humans. Among non-human primates, evidence of non-kin food sharing has largely been found in apes and New World monkeys, while this phenomenon has rarely been reported in Old World monkeys. Here we provide the first descriptive report of food sharing in wild macaques. We studied two free-ranging groups of Nicobar long-tailed macaques from two different islands (i.e., Great Nicobar and Katchal), that have very different ecological settings and vegetation, for over 168 days. Using focal animal sampling, we observed a total of 18 food sharing events, that revolved around monopolizable food items (coconut and termite log) and mostly involved males. Females, even when present near the food owner, took very little interest in observing the event. The macaques shared food only among the individuals who sat close to the food owner, who, in turn, displayed very little aggression against bystanders. Given that, among Nicobar macaques, males have been previously described as forming strong social relationships, and since harassment was rarely observed in the present study, we argue that our observations could support the reciprocal exchange rather than the harassment hypothesis. While more observations are needed to better clarify the ultimate function of food sharing in this species, our study on Nicobar long-tailed macaques highlights some features that might make this species an ideal model to study the evolution of human behavior

Object manipulation and tool use in Nicobar long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis umbrosus)

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Springer in International Journal of Primatology on 08/09/2020, available online: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10764-020-00141-y The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Object manipulation and tool use by non-human primates have received considerable attention from primatologists and anthropologists, because of their broad implications for understanding the evolution of tool use in humans. To date, however, most of the studies on this topic have focused on apes, given their close evolutionary relationship with humans. In contrast, fewer studies on tool use and object manipulation have been conducted on monkeys. Documenting and studying object manipulation and tool use in species that are more distantly related to humans can provide a broader perspective on the evolutionary origins of this behaviour. We present a detailed description of toolaided behaviours and object manipulation by Nicobar long-tailed macaques ( Macaca fascicularis umbrosus ) living along the coastlines of Great Nicobar Island. We made observations from December 2018 to March 2019, using ad libitum and focal sampling methods. We observed behaviours related to object manipulation and tool use in six different behavioural contexts (foraging, hygiene, communication, play, selfdirected and self-hygiene behaviour) involving eight different types of objects, namely resonance rod, play object, rolling platform, scraping tool, dental groom, pounding substrate, leaves as grip pads and wipers, and stimulation tool. We observed that males were involved in tool use and object manipulation more frequently than females. Our results add to existing records of object manipulation, tool-use behaviour and tool variants displayed by non-human primates, showing that Nicobar macaques perform multiple and diverse tool-aided behaviours