Chapter 3

Question 1

Define Hominid

Answer 1

A primate that used bipedal locomotion; of which humans are the only existing species

Question 2

How long ago were primates thought to have lived, based on fossil record?

Answer 2

65 million years ago (MYA)

Question 3

Molecular evidence disagrees with fossil records, how long ago did primates exist according to this alternative view?

Answer 3

90 MYA

Question 4

Define ecological niche

Answer 4

The way of life for a certain species at a specific place and time

Question 5

Define adaptive radiation

Answer 5

The evolutionary process of diversification of a species based on newly available ecological niches

Question 6

Define allopatric. What risks due primates bear due to it?

Answer 6

Populations of species that are separated geographically. Primate populations may be too small; thus survival is threatened

Question 7

What is an angiosperm?

Answer 7

A flowering plant

Question 8

What is a plesiadapiform?

Answer 8

A mammal once thought to be ancestral mammal. Discovered to lived in the Cenzoic Era, 65MYA

Question 9

When do the first undisputed primate fossils appear?

Answer 9

*Plesiadapiforms, thought to have lived in the Paleocene epoch 65-54mya

Question 10

What is the oldest new world primate and when did it live?

Answer 10

Branisella, 25.8-27mya

Question 11

How did new world primates get to South America?

Answer 11

Overwater dispersal, potential of platyrrhine ancestors rafting

Question 12

When did the ancestral hominoids emerge?

Answer 12

Early Miocene (23-16MYA)
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Question 13

When did ancestral hominids evolve from the hominiods?

Answer 13

Late Miocene, 6-7MYA

Question 14

What makes ancestral hominoids distinguishable from other anthropoids in the fossil record?

Answer 14

Unique 5-cusped molars. Y-5 pattern.

Question 15

What old world monkey (genus and popular name) ancestor was very large in size and widespread throughout African grasslands during the Pliocene?

Answer 15

Theropithecus aka Gelada Baboon.

Pliocene - 5MYA

Question 16

Define endemism. What epoch did this occur in?

Answer 16

Species geographic restriction to one area. Pleistocene (1.8MYA).

Question 17

What are some common habitat characteristics in the equatorial belt(& where is it) where most primates are found? (3)

Answer 17

Between tropic of cancer & capricorn.

High rainfall, high plant diversity and productivity & low seasonality

Question 18

What is the difference between splitters and lumpers?

Answer 18

Splitters emphasize variation on the subspecies level; lumpers emphasize variation on the species level

Question 19

What is an evolutionary significant unit?

Answer 19

In conservative biology, it is the classification of species that are genetically different than other individuals in the same species

Question 20

Why are the Ranomafana lemurs considered lucky?

Answer 20

Human efforts are made to preserve their natural habitat. Discovery of new lemur brought awareness.

Question 21

What is cultural primatology?

Answer 21

The study of cultural traditions within primate populations

Question 22

When did the Paleocene occur? What major events were there?

Answer 22

65MYA - first mammalian fossil found. Gradual cooling but tropical climates still widespread

Question 23

When did the Eocene occur? What major events were there?

Answer 23

54 mya - greater cooling; seasonality occurred in higher altitudes. Modern mammals appear - prosimians found in Europe, Asia and NA

Question 24

When did the Oligocene occur? What major events were there?

Answer 24

34 mya - sharp cooling and drying. Anthropoids appear in Africa, prosimians disappear from NA and Europe. Primates found in SA.

Question 25

When did the Miocene occur? What major events were there?

Answer 25

23mya - Cooler and drier. Grasslands spread on middle latitudes. first hominoids and colobines found. First platyrrhines in SA.

Question 26

When did the Pliocene occur? What major events were there?

Answer 26

5mya - Global cooling continues. Major glaciation and formation of ice caps on both hemispheres. Theropithecus widely found in grasslands of Africa.

Question 27

When did the Pleistocene occur? What major events were there?

Answer 27

1.8 mya - Continental glaciation on northern hemisphere. Theropithecus replaced by Papio. Cercopithecidae disapear found in Asia, disappear from Europe.

Question 28

When did the Holocene occur? What major events were there?

Answer 28

12,000 years ago - Warming since last glaciation. Modern fauna.