Anne Zeller Primates Flashcards
Traits common in primates but rare in quadrupeds
Clavicle
Trends in primate evolution (9)
- Eyes that move from side of the head to the front, eyes enclosed in bony eye socket
- Development of colour vision and diurnal lifestyle
- Reduction of the muzzle or snout
- Change from wet nose like a dog to a dry nose (less emphasis on smell)
- Transition from claws to nails on ends of digits
- Development of grasping hands and feet
- Enlargement of brain in relation to body size
- Reduced number of offspring
- Increased lifespan and stages of development
Four major classifications of primates
Prosimians
New world monkeys
Old world monkey
Apes
Prosimians
Galagos lemurs lorises
Anthropoids
New world
Old world
Apes
Prosimians traits (8)
Eyes spaced wide apart with a bar of bone not an eye socket
Less colour vision or none at all
Retention of longer muzzle since smell is more important
Wet nose skin like a dog to pick up scent more easily
Some claws on hind feet
Grasping hands, no opposable thumbs
Dental comb
Rest in nests during night
Scent glands
Large nocturnal lay adapted eyes, learned ears, small body size, long legs
Anthropoids characteristics
Flatter faces More opposable thumbs Larger brain to body ratios Reduced olfactory senses Dry noses More forward facing binocular eyes in bony eye sockets
Distinguishing characteristics of new world monkeys
Only nocturnal monkey
Dental pattern with 36 teeth
Prehensile tails
Nostrils oriented to the side
Features of inner ear structure not visible from outside
Only nocturnal monkey
Owl monkey
New world monkey
Owl monkeys Tamarin Squirrel monkeys Capuchins Howler monkeys Spider monkeys
Old world monkey traits
Narrow nasal septum
Reduced number of pre molars
Two major groupings of old world monkeys
Kind with cheek pouches
Kind with specialized stomachs to process mature leaves
Cheek pouch old world monkeys
Guenons
Baboon
Macaques
Specialized stomach old world monkeys
Colobus
Langers
Apes two categories
Lesser
Great apes
