ANTH 2-4 Flashcards
What is a Primate?
Hard to diagnose: Many features tend to be primitive and generalized.
Primates are characterized by suites of features rather than single, unique features.
Primate Limbs and Locomotion
generalized skeleton
tendency toward upright posture
flexible, generalized limbs (clavicle, rotating forearms)
Evolutionary trends in modern primates: Hands and Feet
adaptive for grasping
divergent, opposable thumb and big toe
5 digits
Highly sensitive pads
Nails instead of claws
Evolutionary trends in modern primates: Senses & Brain
more reliant on vision than smelling
orbital convergence
postorbital bar
increased size and complexity of brain
Eyes
Unlike most other mammals, vision is generally much more critical than smell
forward-facing eyes
trichromatic color vision
specializations include
forward-facing eyes
reduced sense of smell
grasping hands and feet
Nails instead of claws
slow life histories
usually single births
big brains
Colonial terminology
“new world” “old world”
Primate Family Tree
American Monkeys
African and Asian Monkeys
Apes
Tarsiers
Lemurs, Lorises & Galagos
Primatology is helpful for understanding:
Traits that humans share with other primates
Extinct primates
Human adaptations
Our extinct hominin ancestors
Primatology
the study of primates, including their behavior, biology, evolution, and conservation.
Ad libitum
Recording whatever behaviors are important and relevant to the observer
Focal Follow
Recording the behavior of a single individual for a predetermined length of time
Point Sampling
Recording the behavior of a single individual instantaneously and at predetermined time intervals
Scan Sampling
Recording the behavior of multiple individuals at predetermined time intervals
What activity is NOT generally recorded as a state?
Attack
behavior categories
Other social
Out of view
Feed
Be groomed
Travel
Rest
Groom
Activity budget:
This summarizes the amount of time an animal devotes to different behaviors.
