Living Primates Lecture Notes

Vocabulary terms and definitions regarding primate biology, taxonomy, anatomy, and social behaviors based on Chapter 3 lecture notes.

Primatologists

Scientists who study the biology, behavior, and evolutionary history of primates, including lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.

Mammalia

A class of animals that develop inside the mother's womb, feed as babies from mammary glands, maintain constant body temperature, and possess a 4-chambered heart.

Incisors

Mammalian teeth specialized for nipping, gnawing, and cutting.

Canines

Mammalian teeth specialized for ripping, tearing, killing, and fighting.

Premolars

Mammalian teeth specialized for slicing, tearing, grinding, and crushing.

Molars

Mammalian teeth specialized for crushing and grinding.

Nocturnal

Active at night and at rest during the day.

Arboreal

Living in the trees.

Diurnal

Active during the day and at rest at night.

Prosimii

A sub-order meaning "before monkeys" that includes lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers.

Anthropoidea

A sub-order meaning "humanlike" that includes New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, apes, and humans.

Grade

A general level of biological organization seen among a group of species, useful for constructing evolutionary relationships.

Platyrrhini

An infraorder of Anthropoids consisting of New World monkeys.

Catarrhini

An infraorder of Anthropoids consisting of the superfamilies Cercopithecoidea (Old World monkeys) and Hominoidea (apes and humans).

Strepsirhini

A suborder meaning "turned nose" that includes lemurs and lorises.

Haplorhini

A suborder meaning "simple nose" that includes tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.

Dental formula

The number of each tooth type on one half of each jaw; in primates, the numbers are equal on the upper and lower jaws.

Hominoid Dental Formula

$2-1-2-3$ (2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars) for a total of $32$ teeth.

Bicuspid

A tooth with two cusps; specifically refers to the 3rd and 4th premolars in humans.

Y5 pattern

A characteristic groove pattern on hominoid lower molars where five cusps are separated by grooves resembling the letter Y.

Sexual dimorphism

Differences in the shape or size of body features (such as canine size or overall body size) between males and females of a single species not related to reproduction.

Binocular vision

Vision with increased depth perception resulting from transition to two eyes set next to each other, allowing visual fields to overlap.

Stereoscopic vision

Complete 3D vision resulting from binocular vision and nerve connections that allow the brain to integrate images from each eye.

Fovea centralis

A shallow pit in the retina that enables an animal to focus on an object while maintaining visual contact with surroundings.

Ecological niche

A species' way of life in the context of its environment, including diet, activity, terrain, vegetation, predators, and climate.

Vertebrates

Animals with a backbone, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Cranium

The braincase of the skull.

Foramen magnum

A large opening in the skull through which the spinal cord passes and connects to the brain.

Suspensory hanging apparatus

The broad, powerful shoulder joints and muscles found in hominoids that allow hanging suspended below tree branches.

Brachiation

Using the arms to move from branch to branch with the body hanging suspended beneath the arms.

Prehensile

Having the ability to grasp.

Opposable

The ability to bring the thumb or big toe in contact with the tips of the other digits.

Quadrupedally

Walking on all four limbs.

Terrestrial

Ground-dwelling.

Hominoids

Large wide-bodied primates without tails, including apes and humans.

Community

A unit of primate social organization composed of $50$ or more individuals who inhabit a large geographic area together.

Natal group

The group or community an animal has inhabited since birth.

Dominance Hierarchy

An observed ranking system in primate societies ordering individuals from high (alpha) to low standing.

Grooming

The ritual cleaning of another animal's coat to remove parasites; used socially for friendship, submission, or reconciliation.

Estrus

The time of sexual receptivity in some primate females during which ovulation is visibly displayed.

Ovulation

The moment when an egg is released from the ovaries into the womb and is receptive for fertilization.

Monogamous

Mating for life with a single individual of the opposite sex.

Home Range

The geographical area within which a group of primates usually moves.

Core areas

Specific segments within a home range where primates eat, drink, rest, and sleep.

Tool

An object used to facilitate a task or activity, which may be modified for a particular purpose or left unmodified.