Primate evolution

Question 1

Trends: Digits

Answer 1

Mobility: increasing mobility and ability to move digits independently of one another

Opposability: first digit opposable and increasing length results in effectiveness of opposability

Claws/Nails: primitive primates retain claws on some digits; higher primates have nails on all digits.

Question 2

Trends: Dentition

Answer 2

36 teeth in lemurs and lorises; 32 in monkeys, apes and humans

Monkeys and apes have large projecting canines with diastema

4 Cusped molars in monkeys; 5 Cuspeds in apes and humans.

Trend: reduction in size, amount and variability of teeth as you head towards humans

Question 3

What are primates?

Answer 3

Group of mammals that include prosimians monkeys apes and humans

Most of their features are a result of primate having evolved in an arboreal environment