Stony Brook ANT 120 Midterm 2 (Lectures 13-15)

Researchers study nonhuman primate behavior because of

Their close genetic, physiological, and cognitive similarities to humans, and window into the past

About ___ of 5 to 10 million species of animals are mammals

~4,500

Three groups of mammals

Metatheria, Prototheria, Eutheria

There are about ___ species of nonhuman primates currently recognized.

400-500

Universal primate traits

Grasping hands, Large brains, High Degree of learned behavior

Two suborders of primates

Strepsirhini and Haplorhini

Strepsirhines

Lorises, Lemurs, Galagos, Pottos

Haplorhines

Tarsiers, Monkeys, Apes/Humans

The primate body plan is

Generalized

Many stepsirrhines are

Vertical clingers and leapers

Apes have ___ which allow a full range of motion

Brachiator Arms

The ___ is orientated across the back rather than the sides of apes to allow freedom of motion

Scapula

Arboreal Quadrupeds

Run through the trees on four legs

Terrestrial Quadrupeds

Run on the ground on four legs

The main primate adaptation is believed to be

Grasping toes with an opposable thumb

The primate grasping hand has ___ instead of claws

Flattened Nails

Only ___ have secondary evolved claws form their main structures, and give birth to twins

Marmosets and Tamarins

The combination of nails and single clawed digit on the hands and feet on stepsirrhines is called a

Grooming claw

Aye-ayes

Type of lemur that has claws on most fingers/toes and an exceptionally long middle finger

Animals with eye sockets mounted on either side of the head have

Vision that extends nearly 360 degrees

Raccoon skulls have

Non-enclosed bony eye orbits

Primate diets usually consist of

Leaves, Fruit, and occasional Animal Protein

The only primate that exclusively eats animal protein is

Tarsiers

There has been an evolutionary reduction in

The degree of specialization in primate teeth

Formula for total teeth in the mouth

Dental formula total x 4

Primate teeth are arranged in

Two incisors, One canine, Two premolars, and Three molars

Orbital closure of eyes in the skull is ___ in haplorrhines than in stepsirrhines

More complete

Mammals that reproduce slowly have

Long lives, delayed maturation, drawn-out life histories, and acquire information through learning

Most mammals have

Low maternal investment and short periods of infant development

Encephalization

Evolved increase in volume and complexity of the brain, involved in higher cognitive processes

Encephalization is more obvious in

Haplorhine primates

Convolutions

Increase the surface area of the brain and contribute to higher cognitive function

Ontogeny

Length of each life stage in a primate cycle

Diurnal

Primate species that are active during daylight hours

Many mammals use their ___ (smell) to negotiate their physical and social environment

Olfactory senses

Many ___ are nocturnal, but all ___ (except one) are diurnal

Stepsirrhines, Haplorhines

Primates made a shift from an olfactory-based lifestyle to a

Visual-based lifestyle

Diurnal patterns evolved complex patterns of ___, such as bright colors and communicative behaviors, which replaced ___ (nocturnal primates)

Visual communication, Scent-making communication

Sociality

Living in groups, the most fundamental social adaptation that characterizes most primates

Linnaeus divided primates into

Prosimians and Anthropoids

Traits of Stepsirrhines

Nocturnal, reliance on olfaction, lack complex social behavior patterns, tooth combs, grooming claw

Lorises are found in ___ and Pottos are found in

Tropical Asia, Tropical Africa

Galagos are found

Only in Africa

Lorises, Pottos, and Galagos feed on

Fruit, flower nectar, insects, and possibly small animals

Lorises, Pottos, and Galagos communicate

Vocally and by scent-making.

Lorises and Pottos

Slow-moving stalkers, capturing small prey.

Galagos

Balls of enegry that spin from tree to tree, hunt insects and drink nectar

Haplorhins possess

The full suite of adaptations that characterize living primates

Tarsiers have

More haplorhine traits than stepsirhine traits, live in Indonesia, are nocturnal predators, and are the most carnivorous of the nonhuman primates

New World Monkeys are

Platyrrhines

Three features of New World Monkeys

Small Body Size, Three Premolar Teeth, Abroreality

Old-world monkeys, apes, and humans are collectively

Catarrhines (primates with downward-facing nostrils)

Old World Monkeys are in the ___ family

Cercopithecidae.

All humans are classified into the ___ family.

Hominidae

Hominidae is further divided into the sub-families

Hominidae and Pongiane

Traits of Hominidae

Increased Brain Volume and Intelligence, Extended Ontogeny, Increased Complexity of Social Interactions, Large Body Size

Primate Ecology

Study of relationships between primates and their environment

The filter between an organism and its genetic makeup is ___, which must exert some pressure for ___ to act

The environment, evolution by natural selection

Primates are

Active participants in their environments

Most primates are ___ with a ___ diet

Herbivores, Plant Fruit Diet

Some primates supplement their plant diet by

Eating insects

Trees can only afford to be so generous wth their

Leaves

Folivores

Leaf-eaters

Frugivores

Fruit-eaters

Leaves tend to be ___of nutrients and calories compared with fruits

Poor sources

Trees go to war with folivores with

Coated leaves with bristles, spines, or hairs

Many primates have ___ dietary or digestive specializations that allow them to coexist with other animals by carving their own ___

Evolved, Ecological Niche

The larger the primate,

The less insects and meats are part of the diet.

Crepuscular primates

Forage at dawn or dusk

Cathermal primates

Irregular active periods during both the day and night

Gibbons

Brachiate acrobatically through Asian forests and eat fruit as their dietary sample

Mountain Gorillas

Move at a glacial pace, habitat contains partially no fruit trees so they rely on celery and other fibrous plants

Lowland Gorillas

Live in tropical forests and eat fruit as well as leaves

Primates that live on high-fiber, low-calorie diets tend to be more ___ than those living on high-fruit diets

Sedentary