Hominidae: Greater Apes

Question 1

Family Hominidae: Genus Gorillas

Answer 1

Limited ranges but found in rainforests and seasonal forests, two species-four subspecies: eastern and western gorillas, folivorous, sexually dimorphic, climbing and knuckle-walking, semi-terrestrial, Sagittal crest (in males)-females reach puberty at age 10 produce 1 offspring every 8 yrs, gestation 8 1/2 months

Question 2

Eastern gorillas

Answer 2

Robust, thicker hair, located in higher altitudes

Question 3

Western gorillas

Answer 3

Eat fruit when available, killed often for bushmeat, difficult to habituate

Question 4

Gorilla social organization

Answer 4

Usually one mating male (silverback), multiple females and their offspring. Females choose which male they want to be with. Females don’t know each other when they join a group

Question 5

Family Hominidae: Chimpanzees and Bonobos, Genus: Pan

Answer 5

Emphasis on ripe fruit, use of tools to gather hard to acquire foods, observational learning, females reach puberty at 12 yrs, produce 1 offspring every 5-6yrs stay dependent up to 8 yrs - slow reproduction

Question 6

Chimpanzees

Answer 6

Rainforest and savannah habitats, male-dominated social structure, sexual swellings, learning is important (observational/trial&error), group hunting (red colobus)
Locomotion: climbing, knuckle-walking, arboreal, semi-terrestrial

Question 7

Bonobos

Answer 7

Rainforests of the democratic republic of congo, females have equal or higher status than males; all individuals use sexual behavior to diffuse aggression
Locomotion: climbing and knuckle-walking, arboreal and semi-terrestrial, proportions closer to humans body shape, walk bipedally more often (help us understand why humans became bipedal)- more slender than chimps