Living Primates Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Chapter 3 notes regarding primate biology, taxonomy, and behavior.

Primatologists

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

Mammalia

The biological class to which primates belong; members develop inside a womb, feed from mammary glands, are highly active, and maintain a constant body temperature.

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

A biological rhythm where an animal is active at night and at rest during the day.

Arboreal

Living in the trees, a characteristic of the earliest primate-like animals that appeared $65$ mya.

Diurnal

A biological rhythm where an animal is active during the day and at rest at night.

Prosimii

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

Anthropoidea

A Linnaean 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, which is useful for constructing evolutionary relationships.

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. Early primates had a $2-1-4-3$ formula, while hominoids have a $2-1-2-3$ formula.

Bicuspid

A tooth with a second cusp, formed when the $3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ premolars grew larger; in humans, all premolars are bicuspids.

Y5 Pattern

A dental characteristic of the hominoid lower molar where the grooves separating the $5$ cusps look like the letter Y.

Sexual Dimorphism

Differences in the shape or size of body features between males and females of a single species that are not directly related to reproduction.

Binocular Vision

Vision with increased depth perception resulting from having two eyes set next to each other so that their visual fields overlap.

Stereoscopic Vision

Complete $3D$ vision (depth perception) provided by binocular vision and nerve connections that integrate images from each eye in both sides of the brain.

Fovea Centralis

A shallow pit in the retina of the anthropoid eye that allows an animal to focus on an object while maintaining visual contact with its surroundings.

Ecological Niche

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

Vertebrates

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

Cranium

The braincase of the skull, which in primates tends to be high and vaulted.

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 in hominoids that allow large-bodied primates to hang suspended below tree branches.

Brachiation

A mode of locomotion using the arms to move from branch to branch with the body hanging suspended beneath the arms.

Prehensile

Possessing the ability to grasp, often referring to hands, feet, or certain primate tails.

Opposable

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

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 that 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, which serves social functions like friendship, submission, or appeasement.

Estrus

In some primate females, the time of sexual receptivity 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.

Home Range

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

Tool

An object used to facilitate a task or activity, which may involve intentional modification or be used in its natural state.