Primate 1

describe the slow loris

• only venomous primate

• venom gland between armpit and elbow

• licks gland so saliva is venomous

• licks babies for protection

describe golden bamboo lemur

consumes enough cyanide to kill a horse

describe Japanese macaques

• use hot springs

• wash kumara in ocean to salt them

• separate wheat from sand in ocean

describe fairness/morality in capuchins

visible inequality in rewards triggers rejection of lesser reward

describe dino radiation

after end of Dinos, mammals diversified; primates expanded especially into arboreal niches on 4 continents

describe adaptive radiation and mosaic evolution

different traits evolved at different rates/times, producing diverse primate species

describe common ancestry clarification

humans aren’t descended from monkeys/living great apes; all share common ancestor that was neither ape nor human

example of allopatric speciation

madagascar lemurs

who are humans the closest related to?

chimpanzees and bonobos

what is a behavioural difference between chimps and bonobos

chimps show more aggressive and hierarchal social structures, their interactions involve displays of dominance and violence.

bonobos are more peaceful with matriarchal societies, they use sexual behaviours to resolve conflict

where do primates generally reside?

sub/tropical regions and temporal/montane areas

what locations don’t contain non human primates?

australia and papa new guinea

why are there no non human primates in au or png?

The Wallace line acts as geographical separation which led to evolutionary divergence among animals; so that marsupials are primarily found to the east of the line (in Australia and New Guinea), while placental mammals are found to the west (in Asia)

name two suborders of primates

1. Strepsirrhini (prosimians e.g. lemurs)

2. Haplorhini (tarsiers, monkeys, apes, humans)

what defines anthropoids within primate classification?

include monkeys, apes and humans; characterised by a larger brain size and more complex social behaviours

what are the two main types of monkeys?

1. old world monkeys (catarhini)

2. new world monkeys (platyrrhini)

what does the term hominoidea refer to?

superfamily that includes apes and humans

describe after Dino extinction

prosimian radiation first; then anthropoid (new world monkeys in south america - arrival unknown)

when did hominoidea radiate?

before old world monkeys

describe anthropoids cranial capacity

post orbital bar and plate

describe prosimians cranial anatomy

post orbital bar, no plate

what does more bone around eye indicate?

greater reliance on vision (Hawke)

what happened to primates with reduced muzzle forms

shift away form reliance on smell towards enhanced visual capabilities

define brachiation

a specialized form of arboreal locomotion where primates, primarily apes like gibbons, swing hand-over-hand through trees using only their arms

what helps gibbons and spider monkeys with brachiation?

reduced thumb size

what do teeth inform?

diet, age, phylogenetic relationship and social structure

what is human dental formula?

two incisors, one canine, two premolars, three molars per quadrants

what do pronounced canines indicate?

carnivore diet or conflict

what does grinding dentition indicate?

herbivore

as animals get bigger…

relative brain weight was stated to increase

who has largest brain in relation to body size

whales and dolphins

what does a generalised skeleton permit?

diverse locomotive strategies

modes of locomotion

• vertical clinging and leaping

• quadrapedalism

• brachiation

• bipedalism

describe brachiator body

long arms, short legs

how does stereoscopic vision assist primate

provide depth perception; excellent colour vision associated with diurnally

pro and con of nails instead of claws

reduce protection but maximise tactile pad contact; claws impede fine manipulation