Midterm Glossary Flashcards
a genetic, morphological, or behavior change that a species makes to help it survive in its environment
adaptation
a loud vocalization given by all ages and genders in response to a disturbance such as the appearance of a predator or another group
alarm call
reciprocal cleaning of the fur
allogrooming
adapted to life in trees
arboreal
a grouping of two or more species that travel and/or feed together
association
swinging with arms from one branch to another
brachiation
a structure in the mouth used to store food temporarily; found in Old World monkeys but not colobines
cheek pouch
with regard to a male and an estrous female, to temporarily associate and travel together to enhance the male’s chances of paternity. Consortion is found in baboons and chimpanzees
consort
belonging to the same species
conspecific
the distance a group travels in a day, usually measured in meters
day range
a conspicuous behavior involving posture, action, and/or vocalization that usually conveys a message to members of the same species
display
active during the day
diurnal
higher ranking in the hierarchy, as determined by the displacement of other troop members for priority of access to food, mates, or resting places
dominant
the specific role of an organism in its environment and community that allows it to survive and reproduce
ecological niche
the study of how organisms are affected by and interact with other organisms in a particular environment
ecology
the interrelationships among the living organisms and the chemical and physical components of a given environment
ecosystem
the departure of an individual from a group to travel alone or join another group, usually at adulthood
emigration
the period around ovulation when females are willing to mate, as indicated by perineal swellings or pheromonal or behavioral signals
estrus
a social structure in which individuals of a troop split into small sub-groups for foraging and re-form as a large group when food resources permit
fission-fusion
an animal that eat fruit as a major percentage of its diet.
frugivore
the taxonomic classification below family and above species; indicated by italics and capitalization
genus
the period between conception and birth
gestation
an interaction between two primates, with one cleaning the other’s fur
grooming
animals that have gradually learned to trust researchers and can be followed and studied
habituated troop
a rank-ordered system defined by interactions among individuals, with dominants and subordinates
hierarchy
the area used by a troop over an annual cycle; usually expressed in hectares (ha). 1 ha= about 2.5 acres.
home range
the deliberate killing of infants by members of their own species
infanticide
between or among different groups
intergroup
within a group
intragroup
the two pads on the rump, upon which Old World monkeys and gibbons sit.
ischial callosities
an individual between infancy and sexual maturity
juvenille
a gesture that many primate species use as a friendly signal when approaching another individual
lip smacking
pertaining to kinship or descent through female lines
matrilineal
a type of social structure centered on one male and one female that mate only with each other
monogamy
the group into which an individual is born
natal troop
the tropical regions of Central and South America
neotropics
an animal that eats both animal and vegetable material as major percentages of its diet.
omnivore
inflation of the tissue between the anus and the vulva with fluid, signaling the onset of estrus and at its fullest, ovulation
perineal swelling
able to grasp by wrapping around; often refers to the tail of some larger Neotropical monkeys
prehensile
Pertaining to behavior that indicates an individual’s interest in sex
proceptive
a botanically diverse forest in the tropics or subtropics with plentiful year-round rainfall
rain forest
ready to mate; usually corresponds to “estrous”
receptive
open, flat tropical grassland with varying amounts of trees and seasonal rainfall
savanna
an odor-producing organ
scent gland
an olfactory message communicated by rubbing glandular secretions or leaving urine or feces at a specific site
scent mark
an animal that passes seeds through its digestive tract and deposits them unarmed. Some seeds germinate faster after having passed through an animal’s digestive tract
seed disperser
forest in which some but not all of the tree species lose their leaves during one season of the year
semideciduous forest
color pattern variation between genders of the same species
sexual dichromatism
size, color, or weight variation between genders of the same species
sexual dimorphism
the basic biological unit of classification in which like members are similar in appearance, can interbreed, and are different from other species, with which they do not normally interbreed. The species epithet is the uncapitalized word that follows the genus name, as in Cebus apella.
species
pertaining to the chest region near the sternum, or breastbone
sternal
an individual between sexual maturity and full adulthood; similar to a human adolescent
subadult
lower ranking in a hierarchy and therefore giving way to dominant individuals
subordinate
a classification level for a species subgroup that lives in a different geographical region and is morphologically different. The second uncapitalized word after the genus name designates the subspecies, as in Cebus apella nigritus.
subspecies
in latitudes bordering the tropical and temperate zones
subtropical
hanging, climbing, or moving below tree branches
suspensory behavior
sharing the same geographic area
sympatric
the descriptive science of classification and naming of organisms
taxonomy
adapted to life on the ground
terrestrial
the area an animal or group actively defends from other members of its species
territory
a prosimian’s lower incisors, which are inclined forward like a comb and are used for grooming
tooth comb
