Anthro 9/3

Vocabulary flashcards covering primate taxonomy, anatomical traits, evolutionary relationships, and behavioral traits from lecture notes.

Primatomorpha

The order of mammals containing the species to which humans have the closest relationships within the animal kingdom.

Phylogeny

A graphic representation that traces evolutionary relationships and identifies points when an evolutionary event or change occurred, such as the creation of a new species.

Speciation

An evolutionary event where two populations of animals have become dissimilar enough to be two separate species.

Phylogeny Diagram Model

A graphical representation of evolutionary time read from past (bottom) to recent (top), showing an ancestral lineage splitting at a speciation event into descendant lineages.

Primate Order Evolutionary Tree

A phylogenetic tree dividing the primate order into Strepsirrhini and Haplorhini, where nodes represent common ancestors and evolutionary splits.

Homologous

Traits that are similar because of shared ancestry, such as the grasping hands shared by humans and orangutans.

Analogous

Traits that are similar in appearance or function but independent of shared ancestry, resulting from convergent evolution rather than ancestral relationships.

Key primate qualities

1. Dexterity ( grasping hands)

2. Visual acuity ( excellent eyesight)

3. Big brains

4. Long infant dependency

5. Sociality

Stereoscopic Vision

Three-dimensional vision with depth perception, paired with color vision in primates.

Rhinarium

The wet nose found in Strepsirrhines, associated with a large portion of the brain dedicated to smell.

Arboreal

Living in the trees, as opposed to terrestrial living.

Terrestrial

Living on the ground, as opposed to arboreal living.

Nocturnal

Active during the nighttime.

Diurnal

Active during the day.

Strepsirrhines

A primate group consisting of lemurs and lorises, characterized by smaller body size, smaller brain-to-body ratio, a rhinarium, and a large portion of the brain dedicated to smell.

Galagos

A small nocturnal group of Strepsirrhines found in central Africa.

Lemurs

Strepsirrhine primates that live on the island of Madagascar in Africa.

Haplorrhines

A primate group including New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, tarsiers, and apes, characterized by larger body size, larger brain-to-body ratio, and a large portion of the brain dedicated to vision.

Tarsiers

Carnivorous, arboreal Haplorrhines located in Southeast Asia.

Prehensile Tail

A tail that acts as another limb, characteristic of smaller arboreal New World monkeys in the Americas.

New world monkeys

• Located in the Americas

• Smaller, arboreal

• Prehensile tail: Tail that acts as another limb

Old World Monkeys

Primates located in Asia and Africa that are usually diurnal, larger, sometimes terrestrial, and feature patches on their butts to sit on.

Hominoid

The superfamily of all apes and humans, characterized by larger body size, longer lifespans, more upright body posture, larger brains, shorter faces, and no tail.

Brachiation

Arboreal locomotion achieved by swinging from the underside of branches by the arms, as practiced by gibbons.

Gibbons

• Southeast Asia  

• Smaller 

• Arboreal

• Brachiation: Arboreal locomotion by swinging from the underside of branches by the arms 

Orangutans

Semi-arboreal great apes from Southeast Asia (Indonesia) with orange coloring.

Gorillas

The largest of the great apes, native to central Africa and practicing knuckle walking.

Knuckle Walking

Quadrupedal terrestrial locomotion on all four limbs, used by gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos.

Bipedal Walking

Upright locomotion using rear limbs.

Gorilla

• Lives in central africa

• Largest of the great apes 

• Knuckle Walking: Quadrupedal terrestrial locomotion on all four limbs (Gorrilas, Chimps, Bonobos) 

• Bipedal Walking: upright locomotion, using real limbs. We will cover this later, but know that it’s RARE

Chimpanzee

• Natural habitats in central africa

• Territorial 

• Live in large social groups

• Omnivorous

• Pan troglodytes

• USE VIOLENCE to solve conflicts 

• Internal Hierarchies

• Males generally hold power

• Gentleness at times, but also… Territoriality, violence, “warfare”, “conquest” 

Bonobos

• JUST in Democratic Republic of the Congo 

• Pan paniscus 

• USE LOVE to solve conflicts 

• Peace

• Non-reproductive sex to avoid conflict

• Can be aggressive sometimes, but generally helpful to outsiders

• Females hold power

Pan troglodytes

The scientific name for chimpanzees, which live in central Africa, are territorial, omnivorous, male-dominated, and use violence to solve conflicts.

Pan paniscus

The scientific name for bonobos, found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where females hold power and non-reproductive sex and love are used to solve conflicts.

Genus Pan

The genus comprising chimpanzees and bonobos, which represent humanity's closest living relatives (first cousins).