theme 2

Primate Traits

Grasping hands/feet, enhanced vision, reduced smell, large brains, slower life histories.

Opposable Thumb/Toe

Digit that can touch others for grasping. → Used in tool handling.

Stereoscopic Vision

Overlapping visual fields for depth perception.

Postorbital Bar

Bony ring around eye socket for protection.

Encephalization

Brain enlargement relative to body size.

Arboreal Quadruped

Walks on all fours in trees. → Capuchin monkeys.

Terrestrial Quadruped

Moves on all fours on the ground. → Baboons.

Leaper (Vertical Clinger & Leaper)

Launches from one trunk to another using hind legs. → Tarsiers, lemurs.

Brachiator

Swings using arms between branches. → Gibbons.

Knuckle-Walker

Walks on ground using knuckles for support. → Gorillas, chimps.

Bipedalism

Walking upright on two legs. → Humans and later hominins.

Prehensile Tail

Tail adapted for grasping and hanging. → New World monkeys.

Y-5 Molars

Five-cusp molar pattern in apes/humans. → A distinguishing ape trait.

Dental Formula

Tooth count pattern (incisors-canines-premolars-molars). → OW Monkeys 2.1.2.3; NW Monkeys 2.1.3.3.

Sexual Dimorphism

Physical differences between sexes (size, color, canines).