Mammology Lab Practical : Primates and Carnivores

Primate Characteristics

Five digits on hands and feet

opposable thumbs and big toes

generalized heterodont dentition

Tactile pads on fingers, toes, and sometimes tails

nails used instead of claws

foreamen magnum under the skull

eyes facing forward, depth perception through stereoscopic vision

visual information processed by both hemispheres of brain

decreased sense of smell

Canine honing

main function: to engage in competition and display in sexually dimorphic species

groove is formed in upper canine where the lower one has worn it away

Canine diastema

Space for canine to fit in low jaw, usually more prominent in groups with higher sexual dimorphism

Haplorhini

Old world monkeys and new world monkeys

no rhinarium

more mobile, continuous dry upper lip

relatively short rostrum

plate separating orbitals from temoral fossa

Strepsirhini

Lemurs, lorises, Aye-Ayes

Rhinarium - moist, hairless fur patch of skin that surrounds the nostrils

Has grooming claw

Has dental comb

post orbital bar

No plate separating orbitals from temporal fossa

Grooming claw

made of keratin

used for grooming and scratching, cleaning, etc

Tarsiers from Haplorhini have this too

Dental Comb

incisors of the mandibular canine come together to form tooth comb

used for oral grooming

can also be useful for accessing various food resources

Ethology

Study of animal behavior

What causes animal behavior

External environment = rain, heat, cold, etc

internal environment = Hormones, disease, parasites

Ad lib sampling

Behaviors are recorded as their observed

 

Time	Behavior Category	Specific Behavior	Behavior Definition
01:22- 01:54	Feeding Behavior	Monkey 1 - Ingesting food (nut), Monkey 2- begging for food unsuccessfully	Begging for food- monkey approaches another monkey with food and stares at food item while in close contact with second monkey.
01:54-02:15	Feeding Behavior	Monkey 1- ingesting food (onion), Monkey 2- begging for food successfully

Focal sampling

surveys just one individual in the group for a specific amount of time and their behavior is recorded

 

Focal Sampling Exercise “Popeye”
Behavior Category	Specific Behavior	Behavior Definitions

Scan Sampling

Surveys the entire group at regular intervals and each behavior is recorded during the scan

-Record what each animals is doing every 30 seconds for 5 minutes

Carnivore characteristics

Fourth upper premolar (P4) and first lower molar (M1)

Cylindrical canines

Mandibular condyle transverse nearly locked into socket

2 suborders of Carnivora

feliformia and Caniformia

Suborder: Feliforma

Felidae (cats)

Puma Concolor

Lynx Rufus

incisors are small, arranged in a transverse line, face short and broad

Divided bullae

Puma Concolor

Lynx rufus

Bobcat

Suborder: Caniformia

Families: Canidae, Ursidae, Procyonidae, Mustelidae, Mephitidae,

Canidae

Elongated rostrum

Molars have a crushing surface

Canis lantrans

Canis lupus

Vulpus Vulpus

Vulpus Macrotis

Urocyon Cinereoargentus

Canis Latrans

Coyote

Canis Lupus

Grey Wolf

Vulpus Vulpus

Red Fox

Vulpus Macrotis

Kit Fox

Urocyon Cinereoargentus

Gray Fox

Family: Ursidae

Molars Bunodont

First 3 molars are rudimentary or lost

weakly developed carnassial

Prominant sagittal crest

Ursus Americanus

Ursus Americanus

Black Bear

Family: Procyonidae

Canines oblong in cross-section

premolars pointed and small

Carnassial poorly developed

Molars broad and some what bunodont

Procyon lotor

Bassasariscus asustus

Procyon lotor

Raccoon

Bassariscus astutus

Ring Tail

Family Mustelidae

Facial region of the skull very short

Premolars small, Carnassial usually well-developed

Mustela frenata

Taxidae taxus

Lontra canadensis

Mustela frenata

Long tailed weasel

Taxidae taxus

American Badger

Lontra canadensis

river otter

Family: Mephitidae

Cheek teeth tuberculo-sectorial (partially modified for omnivorous diet)

Mephitis mephitis

Spilogale gracilis

Conepatus leuconotus

Mephitis mephitis

Striped Skunk

Spilogale gracilis

Western Spotted skunk

Conepatus leuconotus

hog nosed skunk

Simple measurements from camera trapping

detection frequency - one image of an animal per day

activity patterns - when animals were active during different times of the day

detection rate - total number of photos of species divided by total time camera was running

Species richness - total number of species detected during the study

Relative abundance index - summing of all detections of each species for all camera traps multiplied by 100 and divided by total # of camera trap days

not-so-simple camera trap measurements

Density - mark-recapture - if animals can be identified

Large datasets - more practical to use computer program software programs to analyze data

camera trap field placement

-select trees that wont blow in the wind

-ground level w/ no obstructions

-avoid direct sunlight

-positions camera down the path, not perpendicular

-consider the height of animals

-make sure data and time stamp are visible in the frame

-secure camera in tree with wire and chains to prevent theft

-test your camera by walking in front of it