Chapter 5

Primate

Member of the mammalian order Primates, including lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans.

Primate diversity

Variation among primates in anatomy, diet, habitat, locomotion, and social behavior.

Comparative method

Comparing species to understand how traits and behaviors evolved.

Sexual dimorphism

Physical differences between males and females of the same species.

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Nocturnal

Active mainly during the night.

Arboreal

Tree-dwelling.

Terrestrial

Ground-dwelling.

Opposable thumb

A thumb that can move against the other fingers for grasping.

Precision grip

Using the thumb and fingers for precise manipulation.

Tactile pads

Sensitive pads on primate fingers and toes that improve touch.

Hind-limb dominated

Locomotion in which the hind limbs provide much of the movement and power.

Olfactory

Related to the sense of smell.

Binocular vision

Vision in which the visual fields of both eyes overlap.

Stereoscopic vision

The brain combines images from both eyes to perceive depth.

Quadrupedalism

Locomotion using four limbs.

Brachiation

Arm-over-arm swinging from branch to branch.

Vertical clinging and leaping

Clinging upright to a support and leaping to another.

Primate life history

Generally few offspring, long development, and high parental investment.

Generalized dentition

Teeth that are relatively unspecialized for one specific diet.

Primate biogeography

The geographic distribution of primates.

Dental formula

Number of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars on one side of the jaw.

2.1.3.3 dental formula

2 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars, and 3 molars.

2.1.2.3 dental formula

2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars.

Incisor

Front tooth mainly used for cutting or biting.

Canine

Pointed tooth located between incisors and premolars.

Premolar

Tooth located between the canine and molars.

Molar

Back tooth mainly used for crushing and grinding.

Bilateral symmetry

Left and right sides have the same basic pattern.

Dental morphology

The shape and structure of teeth.

Cusp

Raised point on the surface of a tooth.

Frugivore

Animal that primarily eats fruit.

Folivore

Animal that primarily eats leaves.

Gummivore

Animal that primarily eats plant gums.

Insectivore

Animal that primarily eats insects.

Cellulose

Tough plant material that is difficult for animals to digest.

Order Primates

Taxonomic order containing all living primates.

Semorder

Major taxonomic division within the primate order.

Strepsirrhini

Primate group containing lemurs and lorises.

Haplorhini

Primate group containing tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.

Lemuriformes

Infraorder containing lemurs.

Lorisiformes

Infraorder containing lorises, pottos, and galagos.

Tarsiiformes

Suborder containing tarsiers.

Anthropoidea

Monkeys, apes, and humans.

Prosimian

Traditional grouping of lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers.

Tarsier

Small nocturnal haplorhine primate found in Southeast Asia.

Tarsier classification

Tarsiers are Haplorhines and are more closely related to anthropoids than strepsirrhines.

Platyrrhini

New World monkeys.

Catarrhini

Old World monkeys, apes, and humans.

Cercopithecoidea

Old World monkeys.

Hominoidea

Apes and humans.

Hominoid

Member of the ape and human group.

Platyrrhine location

Central America, South America, and southern Mexico.

Catarrhine location

Africa and Asia.

Platyrrhine dental pattern

Usually 2.1.3.3, with three premolars.

Catarrhine dental pattern

2.1.2.3, with two premolars.

Platyrrhine nostrils

Nostrils tend to face more outward.

Catarrhine nostrils

Nostrils are closer together and tend to face downward.

Prehensile tail

A tail capable of grasping or supporting the body.

Platyrrhine vs. Catarrhine

Platyrrhine = New World/3 premolars; Catarrhine = Old World and apes/2 premolars.

Atelidae

New World monkey family including howlers, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, and muriquis.

Cebidae

New World monkey family including capuchins, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, marmosets, and tamarins.

Pitheciidae

New World monkey family including titis, sakis, and uakaris.

Owl monkey

The only nocturnal haplorhine primate.

Cooperative breeding

Other group members help a breeding pair care for offspring.

Marmosets and tamarins

Small New World monkeys known for cooperative breeding and frequent twin births.

Colobines

Old World monkeys often specialized for eating leaves.

Cercopithecines

Old World monkey group including macaques, baboons, and vervets.

Ape characteristic

Apes lack tails and generally have relatively large brains.

Lesser apes

Gibbons and siamangs.

Great apes

Orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans.

Hylobatidae

Ape family containing gibbons and siamangs.

Gibbons and siamangs

Asian lesser apes specialized for brachiation.

Orangutan

Asian great ape native to Borneo and Sumatra; relatively solitary.

Gorilla

African great ape and the largest living primate.

Chimpanzee

African great ape in genus Pan; uses tools and lives in multimale-multifemale communities.

Bonobo

African great ape in genus Pan; females form strong social bonds.

Pan

Genus containing chimpanzees and bonobos.

Pan troglodytes

Common chimpanzee.

Pan paniscus

Bonobo.

Orangutan location

Borneo and Sumatra in Asia.

Gorilla location

Africa.

Chimpanzee location

Africa.

Bonobo location

Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa.

Fission-fusion organization

A community repeatedly splits into smaller parties and later reunites.

Primate ecology

Study of how primates interact with food, habitat, predators, and other environmental factors.

Basal metabolic rate

Energy an animal requires simply to remain alive at rest.

Activity metabolism

Energy spent on movement and normal daily activity.

Secondary compounds

Plant chemicals that can discourage or harm animals that eat them.

Alkaloids

A type of plant secondary compound with biological effects.

Body size and diet

Smaller primates need higher-quality foods; larger primates can rely more on leaves.

Food distribution

The way food resources are spread through an environment.

Home range

Area regularly used by an animal or group.

Territory

Area actively defended against members of the same species.