SDSU ANTH 101 Exam #2 Primates

Professor Oliver Paine, exam on 3/26

Gorilla cognitive abilities

Gorillas exhibit advanced cognitive skills, including problem-solving, tool use, and social learning.

Vervet monkeys

Known for their complex social structures and communication. ei. drinking alcohol at human resorts.

Imo the Japanese macaque

New innovative behavior in washing sweet potatoes, demonstrating cultural transmission.

Theory of Mind

The ability to attribute mental states, such as beliefs and intentions, to oneself and others, crucial for social interactions.

Bonobos

Closely related to chimpanzees, known for their peaceful social structures and use of sexual behavior for conflict resolution.

Capuchin cognitive abilities

Known for their intelligence, tool use, and ability to learn through observation.

Chimpanzee cognitive abilities

Demonstrate advanced cognitive functions, including problem-solving, tool-making, and social learning.

Mimetic musculature

Muscle structure that allows for facial expressions, used in social interactions among primates.

Harlow experiments

Psychological experiments by Harry Harlow that studied attachment and social behavior in rhesus monkeys, highlighting the importance of comfort and attachment security.

Jane Goodall

A primatologist known for discovering that chimpanzees could make and use tools. Also found out chimps could go to war with each other.

Dietary challenges

Obstacles primates face in obtaining adequate nutrition are often due to environmental or competition.

Colobines

A subfamily of Old World monkeys known for their specialized digestive systems, adapted to a leaf diet.

Anabolism and catabolism

Metabolic processes where anabolism builds up molecules for energy storage, and catabolism breaks down molecules for energy release.

Taste perception

The ability to detect and interpret flavors, influencing dietary choices and feeding behavior in primates.

Primate distribution

The geographical spread of primate species across the world, influenced by ecological factors and evolutionary history.

Madagascar

An island nation known for its unique primate species, particularly lemurs, which evolved in isolation.

Primate locomotion

The various modes of movement used by primates, including brachiation, quadrupedalism, and bipedalism.

Primate molar morphology

The shape and structure of molars in primates, which reflect dietary habits and evolutionary adaptations.

Hominoid characteristics

Features that define hominoids (apes and humans), including larger brains, lack of tails, and complex social behaviors.

C/P3 honing complex

A dental feature found in some primates where the upper canine tooth sharpens against the lower third premolar. This is something you don’t find in humans.

Tapetum lucidum

A reflective layer behind the retina in some primates that enhances night vision.

Strepsirrhine characteristics

Features of strepsirrhines (lemurs and lorises), including a wet nose and reliance on smell.

Baculum and baubellum

The vacuum is the bone inside the penis and the barbellum is the one inside the clitoris of primates.

Encephalization quotient

A measure of brain size relative to body size, indicating cognitive abilities in primates. Bigger than EQ 1 with humans having EQ 6 intelligence.

The first primates

Early primates that appeared during the Paleocene epoch, characterized by adaptations for arboreal life.

Platyrrhines

New World monkeys characterized by their flat noses and prehensile tails, found in Central and South America.

Catarrhine evolutionary relationships

The evolutionary connections between Old World monkeys and apes, including humans.

Gigantopithecus

An extinct genus of giant apes that lived in Asia, known for its massive size and herbivorous diet.

Humans: NOT cercopithecoidea

Humans belong to the family Hominidae and are not classified within the Cercopithecoidea, which includes Old World monkeys.

Strepsirrhines: lemurs + lorises

A group of primates that includes lemurs and lorises, characterized by their unique adaptations and behaviors.

No primates native to Australia

Australia lacks native primate species, although some have been introduced.

Tarsiers

Tarsiers are small primates that primarily eat insects and small vertebrates, making them obligate carnivores.

Rules of taxonomy

The principles and guidelines used to classify and name organisms, including primates, based on shared characteristics.

Ring-tailed lemurs

A species of lemur known for its distinctive tail and social behavior, often living in matriarchal groups.

Primate mating systems

The various reproductive strategies employed by primates, including monogamy, polygyny, and polyandry.

Orangutan bimaturism

A phenomenon in orangutans where males exhibit two distinct forms of maturity: flanged and unflanged, influencing their mating strategies.

Global language diversity

The variety of languages spoken around the world, reflecting cultural differences and communication methods.

Great ape language experiments

Research studies that explore the ability of great apes to learn and use human language or symbols for communication.

Nutrients→ 449 rule

Calories important for survival

Primate Feeding Strategies

Primates have fallback food sources when they can’t find their favorite food.