Topic 3: Primatology

Learning Objectives

• What is taxonomy?

• Define homology and analogy.

• Describe primate taxonomy.

• What is the most important characteristic of the social behavior of monkeys and apes?

• What are the major cognitive abilities of the great apes?

Historical Background: the Reform of Physical Anthropology in the USA

• Research focus of the old physical anthropology before the early 1950s

• Sherwood Washburn’s new vision and methods

purpose is to review the broad evolutionary process, it has a lot to do with physical anthropology before the early 1950s. They were busy measuring people’s circumferences. 

They said they should look at a broader picture of human and nonhuman primates to figure out more things, more connections, etc

Taxonomy

classification of plants and animals; assignment of organisms to categories

• (Carolus Linnaeus developed the first comprehensive taxonomy)

taxonomy is VERY important 

Place of Modern Humans in Zoological Taxonomy

Two Concepts Related to Taxonomy

• Homologies

• Analogies

Homologies

similar traits that organisms have jointly inherited from a common ancestor (these traits are used to assign organisms to the same classificatory unit—taxon);

Not all the similarities are caused by the same reason

All mammals have memory glands, memory glands separate them from other animals like bugs and birds

Analogies

similarities arising as a result of similar selective environmental forces in the evolutionary process

• Dolphins are an example of an analogies because they are mammals

• Bats are an example of an analogy, they have small bones

Primatology

The study of the evolution, anatomy, adaptation, and social behavior of nonhuman primates

Primate Taxonomy

The primate order consists of two suborders:

1. Prosimians

2. Anthropoids

Prosimians

Three infraorders of the prosimian suborder:

• Lemurs

• Lorises

• Tarsiers

Prosimians decided to become nocturnal to compete and survive

Anthropoids

ancient ancestors to humans

Traits shared by all anthropoids (ancestral to monkeys, apes, and humans)

• Larger skulls

• Better vision (can see in color and in depth)

• Fingers as the main touch organs

Two infraorders within the anthropoid suborder:

• Platyrrhini: New World monkeys

• Catarrhini: including Old World monkeys, apes, and humans.

The most important characteristic of monkey and ape social behavior

strong social bonds with selected companions (relatives and “friends”)

• grooming is a bonding process

Social Structure

• Matrilines: primate groups that are organized around female relatives

  • Rhesus Monkey

    • stay in their natal groups, males transfer

    • male’s positions in hierarchy may not be stable

    • female hierarchy in a matriline (group): a ladder of females which are ranked one against the other.

    • the “youngest" sister ascendancy rule”

• Patrilines: primate groups that are organized around male relatives

  • Chimpanzees

    • Males stay in their natal groups, females transfer

    • male hierarchy: a single male at the top

    • dominance is not necessarily based on physical strength

    • social life organized around males: male-male bonds and cooperation

Cognative Ability of the Great Apes

• Ability to learn (ex. making and using tools) ex: using stones to break things open

• Empathy: the ability to take into account the mental perspective of another individual

• complex communication