Lecture 1 Intro to Primatology and the Primate pattern 1 per page

Primatology

The study of nonhuman primates, which includes prosimians, monkeys, and apes.

Anthropocentric rationale

The perspective that studying nonhuman primates can inform us about human origins and traits.

Derived traits

Specialized traits that distinguish humans from their primate ancestors.

Primitive traits

Traits that were likely shared with the last common ancestor of humans and nonhuman primates.

Homologous traits

Traits inherited from a common ancestor, indicating evolutionary relationships.

Analogous traits

Traits that serve similar functions but do not arise from a common ancestor.

Language

A complex system of communication that some primates exhibit, raising questions about human language origins.

Tool use

The ability to use objects to aid in tasks, observed in various nonhuman primate species.

Cultural traditions

Knowledge transmission and behavior patterns that can be observed in group living among primates.

Evolutionary models

Frameworks used to understand and predict behavior in both humans and nonhuman primates.

Social organization

The structured pattern of relationships and social roles within a primate group.

Sexual dimorphism

Differences in size or appearance between males and females of the same species.

Kin selection

A type of natural selection that favors behaviors benefiting relatives.

Reciprocal altruism

A behavior where an individual helps another with the expectation of future help.

Phylogenetic fallacy

The erroneous assumption that because species are related, their behaviors must be similar.

Flagship species

Species that are chosen to represent an environmental cause, often to raise awareness.

Indicator species

Species whose presence or absence indicates the health of an ecosystem.

Descriptive studies

Research that focuses on observing and documenting behaviors without explaining why.

The Primate Pattern

A set of adaptive features common to all primates, including humans.

Dominance

A social hierarchy within primate groups often characterized by power dynamics.

Aggression

Hostile or violent behavior observed in both human and primate species.

Sociobiology

A field of study that explains social behaviors based on evolutionary success.

Behavioral ecology

The study of the ecological and social factors that influence behaviors in organisms.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying organisms into categories based on shared characteristics.

Carnivora

An order of mammals that includes animals like bears, cats, and dogs.

Chiroptera

An order of mammals that includes bats.

Cetacea

An order of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Artiodactyla

An order of even-toed ungulates, such as cows, pigs, and deer.

Rodentia

An order of mammals characterized by two continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws.

Insectivora

An order of small mammals that primarily feed on insects, including shrews and moles.

Prosimians

A suborder of primates that includes lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers.

Monkeys

A diverse group of primates that generally have tails and are divided into New World and Old World monkeys.

Apes

A group of primates that includes gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans.

Humans

The species Homo sapiens, characterized by advanced cognitive abilities and complex social structures.

Social glue

The role of female primates in maintaining group cohesion and social bonds.

Cultural transmission

The process by which information is passed from one individual to another through learning and imitation.