Term
| Why do we study Nonhuman Primates? |
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Definition
-Common ancestors (reasoning by homologous traits).
- To help us understand ourselves and our evolution (reasoning by analogous traits). |
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Term
| Taxonomy classifications: |
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Definition
7 levels, many sublevels;
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species |
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Term
| Primates divided into 6 Categories (NOTHAL): |
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Definition
| New World Monkeys Old World Monkeys Tarsiers Humans Apes Lemurs & |
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Term
| Primates are diverse in that: |
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Definition
| Activity patterns (nocturnal, diurnal, cathemeral), social systems (mating, etc.), nondescript patterns. |
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Term
Complexes of Primate Characteristics:
(Great Lakes are not SeaS) |
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Definition
1. Grasping hands & feet.
2. Sensory System.
3. Large and complex brains and associated behaviour.
4. Skeletal and dental features. |
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Term
| 1. Grasping hands & feet: |
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Definition
-Opposable thumbs and hallux toe. HUMAN FOOT IS AN EXCEPTION.
-Nails
-Power grip, precision grip. |
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Term
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Definition
-Forward facing eyes
-Greater reliance on vision
-Steroscopic vision.
-Colour vision (all at least dichromatic). |
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Term
| 3. Large, Complex brains: |
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Definition
-Large RELATIVE to body size. 2x larger, humans 7 to 8x larger.
-Learning and socialization important.
-Learning rather than instinct.
-High investment in offspring.
>Altricial(requiring nourishment) offspring. |
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Term
| 4. Features of the Skeleton and Dentition |
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Definition
-Generalized limb structure.
-Generalizaed, flexible morphology.
-Non-specialized physical form.
-Reduction in # of teeth.
-Postorbital bar; some have postorbital closure. |
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Term
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Definition
| Not all primates share these traits, hence "nondescript". |
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Term
4 Theories & their problems (VATA):
Arboreal Theory:
Mutually exclusive? |
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Definition
Primates evolved to meet the requirements of arboreal (in trees) habitat.
Problem: non-primates have also evolved these traits.
They are not mutually exclusive. |
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Term
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Definition
Primate patterns represent and adaptation to foraging for insects in the terminal branches of trees. Based on COMPARATIVE METHOD between visual predators.
Problem: Few living primates are visual predators, ealiest primates lacked stereoscopic vision. |
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Term
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Definition
Primate pattern explained only in terms of exploitation of plat resources located at periphery of tree crowns.
Problem: largely untested. |
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Term
| Angiosperm Radiation Theory |
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Definition
Fruit, flowers offered new niches leading to primate specialization (could also feed on insects on trees).
Problem: flowering plants evolved well before primates, early primates were not nectar specialists, marsupials evolved before flowering trees that already had grasping hand traits. |
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Term
| Strepsirhines changed species/category. |
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Definition
Because of the rise of cladistics in determining family trees.
Used to include tarsiers. |
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Term
| Strepsirhines divided into |
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Definition
| Lemuriformes and Lorisiformes. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Strepsirhines characteristics |
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Definition
-Large eyes
-Mostly nocturnal
-Independently mobile ears
-Immobile upper lid
-Inexpressive face
-Rely on scent marking (olfaction)
-Dental comb and grooming claw.
-Moist nose
-Tapetum lucidum (bright eyes in nocturnal animals). |
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Term
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Definition
| Vertical clinging and leaping (VCL) |
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Term
| Lemuriformes CHaracteristics |
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Definition
-Only endemically (naturally) found in Madagascar & Comoros islands.
-5 families |
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Term
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Definition
-Underwent adaptive radiation
Lemuridae
-Most diverse, omnivores and diurnal.
Indriidae
-Largest body, many diurnal. |
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Term
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Definition
| Short periods of decreased physiological activity (hibernation without sleeping). |
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Term
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Definition
| "Giant lemurs" (10-200kg); extinction when humans arrived. |
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Term
| Other Lemuriformes characteristics |
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Definition
-Sexual dichromatism, but not sexually dimorphic.
-overwhelmingly diurnal.
-Small group sizes (average 8). |
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Term
| Lemuriformes Energy & reproduction |
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Definition
| -Lower than normal Basal Metabolic Rate |
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Term
| Lemuriformes are _____ dominant, whereas most primates are _____ dominant. |
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Definition
| Lemuriformes are female dominant, whereas most primates are male dominant. |
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Term
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Definition
| Families: Galagidae and Lorisidae |
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Term
| Lorisiformes characteristics |
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Definition
-Many nocturnal to avoid competition
-small
-solitary ("noyau")
-insect, gum and fruit diet.
-scent marking for communication. |
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Term
| Galagidae (bush baby) characteristics. |
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Definition
-vertical clinging/leaping
-strong hind limbs and long tails for balance
-nocturnal
-bushbaby because they sound like a screaming baby. |
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Term
| Lorisidae characteristics |
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Definition
-Diurnal
-slow moving
-climbers (not VCL)
-derived hand with 2nd short digits. |
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Term
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Definition
| Applying and studying traits through the fossil record. |
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Term
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Definition
| Reproduction inside of the body of the mother. |
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