The skeletal correlates of behavioral modification in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus).

The effects of behavioral modification on the skeletal morphology of the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) are investigated. Climbing, with increased prehensile use of the foot, is found to bring about significant changes in metatarsal and long bone morphology. Differences in metatarsal robusticity related to weight-bearing differences associated with different locomotor patterns are reported for a natural history setting for Peromyscus.