Module 2 Lecture One

Question 1

 what is the taxonomic position of primates?

Answer 1

Common chimpanzees
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Pan
Species: troglodytes

Question 2

why are primates hard to classify relative to other

mammals?

Answer 2

hard to define
 ancestral traits are shared w/
other orders
 species diverse and  described by combination of traits
There is only 1 defining trait !

Question 3

What are primate characteristics, i.e., traits that are used to describe primates?

Answer 3

1.Generalized body plan
 primitive limb structure; variety of modes of travel
2. Hands and feet
 grasping (w/ divergent thumb, big toe);
tactile pads; nails
3. Optic convergence
 eyes forward; bony ring/ socket
enhanced vision
 stereoscopic vision; complex retina
4. Unspecialized sense of smell
 reduction snout, reduction olfactory
apparatus
5. Brain enlargement
 large and complex brain (visual, motion,
cognition)
6.Dental characteristics
 heterodont; reduced numbers; simple
molars
7.Slow life history
 small litters (usually 1 offspring, but up to long gestation, long infancy, long juvenility, long life span

Question 4

what is the trait defining primates (unique to

primates)?

Answer 4

Defining trait: internal ear structure

 auditory bulla made from petrosal bone

Question 5

what are the 4 hypotheses proposed to explain (some)

primate characteristics and who proposed them?

Answer 5

1. ARBOREAL Theory
 GE Smith, F Wood Jones, WE LeGros Clark
2. VISUAL PREDATION THEORY
 M Cartmill
3. ANGIOSPERM RADIATION HYPOTHESIS*
 RW Sussman
4. VISUAL PREDATION & TERMINAL BRANCH FEEDING THEORY  DT Rasmussen
(combining 2 & 3)

Question 6

What is Arboreal theory, who proposed it?

Answer 6

Arboreal theory
GE Smith, F Wood Jones, WE LeGros Clark
 living in the trees (movement, manipulation, complex
environment)
 grasping hands & feet, improved vision, enlarged brain

Question 7

What is visual predation theory?

Answer 7

visual predation theory
 M Cartmill
convergent evolution
 species become similar (similar environments) for example forward facing eyes, grasping to help with vision and hunting

Question 8

What is angiosperm radiation hypothesis* (branch feeding)

Answer 8

Angiosperm radiation hypothesis*
 RW Sussman
Basically they adaptd to reach out and eat food from the end of branches
 feeding on fruit and nectar, grasping

Question 9

What is visual predation & terminal branch feeding theory

 DT Rasmussen

Answer 9

Visual predation & terminal branch feeding theory combines the two theories