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Exploring Primates: Features, Groups & Evolution

Discover the unique physical characteristics, evolutionary journey, and distribution of primates. Compare major primate groups, from prosimians to anthropoids, and discuss crucial theories like the visual predation hypothesis. Learn about primate anatomy and locomotion modes, examining key factors like arboreality and dentition. Delve into the impact of extinction factors like habitat destruction and bushmeat hunting. Dive into the intriguing world of primates!

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Exploring Primates: Features, Groups & Evolution

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  1. Primates ANA 215 Primates

  2. ANA 215 Primates

  3. Objectives • Discuss physical characteristics shared by all primates • Compare similarities and differences between the major primate groups • Video: Survey of the Primates ANA 215 Primates

  4. Characteristics of primates • Generalized limb structure • Prehensile hand and feet • Nails instead of claws • Omnivorous/generalized dentition • Colour vision • Depth perception ANA 215 Primates

  5. Characteristics of primates • Decreased reliance on smell • Increase in brain complexity • Decrease in the number of offspring • Increase in learned behavior/increase in parental care • Diurnal (mostly) • Social groups ANA 215 Primates

  6. Anatomy - cranium • Brain case • Post-orbital bar • Post-orbital plate • Auditory bulla • Orbits • Flexion of the cranium ANA 215 Primates

  7. Theory • Arboreal hypothesis • Jerison 1973 • Visual predation hypothesis • Cartmill 1992 • Flower and fruit hypothesis • Sussman 1991 ANA 215 Primates

  8. Distribution of primates • New World : tropical and sub – tropical areas including Mexico • Old World : Africa, India, SE Asia and Japan • Habitats: Arboreal and Woodland ANA 215 Primates

  9. Dental formula Most prosimians and NWM 2:1:3:3 2:1:3:3 X 4 = 34 OWM, Apes and Humans 2:1:2:3 2:1:2:3 x 4 = 32 ANA 215 Primates

  10. Mode of locomotion • Intermembral Index = Length of humerus + length of radius Length of femur + length of tibia X 100 • Vertical clinging & leaping: 50 – 67 • Quadrapedalism: 68 – 105 • Brachiation : 106 – 150 • Humans: 72 (spectrum 53 – 150) ANA 215 Primates

  11. Classification changes • DNA hybridization: 98.4% similarity between chimpanzees and humans. Homo troglodytes? • Tarsiers • Strepshirhini (wet nosed Prosmii) • Haplorhini (dry nosed tarsiers and anthropoids). ANA 215 Primates

  12. Prosimian (Strepsirhini) • Increase reliance on smell • Shorter gestation and maturation • Eyes are more laterally placed • Dental comb ANA 215 Primates

  13. Prosimians (Strepsirhini) ANA 215 Primates

  14. Tarsier (Haplorhini) ANA 215 Primates

  15. Anthropoids • Larger brain/body size • Reduced reliance on smell • Increased reliance on vision & colour vision • Postorbital plate ANA 215 Primates

  16. Anthropoids • Fused mandible • Longer gestation and maturation • Increased parental care ANA 215 Primates

  17. Platyrrhini vs Catarrhini ANA 215 Primates

  18. Evolution of monkeys • OWM and NWM • 30 – 50 mya derived from a common monkey ancestor • Floating islands • Homoplasy ANA 215 Primates

  19. Hominoids • Larger than anthropoids • No tail • Shorter trunk • Increase in complexity in brain, behavior and cognition • Increased period of infant dependency ANA 215 Primates

  20. Extinction of primates • Habitat destruction • Bush meat (hunted for food) • Capture for export or trade ANA 215 Primates

  21. Primate Maze Practical • NW 1 Computer Lab: 20/02/06 • Read Chapter 6 of Jurmain et al. (2005) ANA 215 Primates

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