Lecture 1

Question 1

Why are primates species endangered?

Answer 1

• Tropical deforestation
• Hunting for food
• Hunting for trade with wild animals

Question 2

Pentadak tilia

Answer 2

• Having 5 fingers on each hand and foot
• Exception: Ateles -> 4 fingers on hands, 5 on feet

Question 3

Grasping extremities

Answer 3

• Ability for grasping depends on the position of thumb
  
  • Opposable thumb
    
    • Thumb can rotate to a certain limit
    • Thumb can press against other fingers
    • Humans have the most effective opposable thumb
• Safe grasping, skillful handling with objects
• All primates have grasping hands and feet
  
  • Exception: humans don’t have grasping feet

Question 4

Hook-like power grip

Answer 4

• Grasping branches with a wide curved palm and curved fingers
• Widenose apes of the new world

Question 5

Secure power grip

Answer 5

• Grasping branches with partly curved fingers and palm, and a thumb in opposable position
• Orangutan

Question 6

Precision grip

Answer 6

• Grasping branches with bent fingertips and a thumb in opposable position, can handle very small objects
• chimpanzee, human