Primate Vocabulary Flashcards
New World
North, Central, and South America
dominance
the ability to intimidate others
control animal
an animal that performs the set of roles associated with alpha status in macaques
avoidance
voluntary surrender of space or possessions, ignored by the reciever
primiparous
a female who has had only one infant
coalition
alliance of several animals for joint action
tumescence
swelling
branch shake
a violent display in which the actor calls attention to himself by vigorously shaking a tree limb or cage wall
role
the performance of an interrelated, predictable set of behaviors that appear to have functional organization
headbob
up and down movement of head
estrous cycle
anatomical, behavioral, and endocrine changes associated with cyclic changes in reproductive status
scent-marking
deposition of odoriferous substances on an object or animal
supplantation
Forceful taking of another animal’s possessions or space. Preferable to a term displacement, which has alternative meanings.
sib clusters
brothers and sisters
Old World
Europe, Africa, and Asia
breeding season
the time of year when subject animals are sexually active
oikia
Japanese term equivalent to troop. A stable, organized group of primates.
sexual dimorphism
the differences between male and female of a particular species
lipsmack
rapid opening and closing of the mouth
Alpha male
the most dominant adult male in a rhesus group
ischial callosities
thick, colored callous pads overlying the ischial tuberosities (buttocks) in some anthropoids
cheek pouches
an extension of the oral cavity produced by the herniation of the buccinator muscles
present
to offer a part of one’s body to another animal
forebob
up and down movement of the head and shoulders
troop
Stable group that represents the largest tightly organized unit of a primate society. Variously referred to as a clan, band, or a family.
terrestrial
living on the ground
parallel play
playing alongside, but not with, another animal
conspecifics
members of the same species
peripheral
On the margins or outlying areas of the troop. The implicit contrast is with central, which refers to the most conspicuous site of social activity, a focus around which other animals gravitate.
bounce
vigorous up and down movement of the entire body as a specific display
uterine group
a mother and her offspring
territory
an area (usually within a home range) to which a troop has exclusive claims, often established by defending against intruders
display
stereotyped series of motor acts and body alterations that has emotional and communicative functions
nulliparous
a female who has never given birth
subordinates
the loser of a social conflict
sexual skin
skin patch found in some primates (usually female), which exhibits color or physical changes that reflect reproductive status
Agnostic
combative
null hypothesis
a proposal of no difference or no effect
Adaptation
adjustment of a species to a particular environment
tactile
relation to the sense of touch
ontogeny
development and growth of an individual (contrasts with phylogeny, the evolutionary inheritance from an individual’s ancestry).
enlist
an attempt by an animal to acquire the support of a second animal against a third
crouch
a defensive or subordinate quadrupedal posture with body and legs partly flexed
pharamone
chemical substances produced by an animal, which acts as a signal in communication
rank
order position in a status hiarachy
stereotypy
persistent repetition of senseless acts or movements
gestation
period of prenatal development between conception and birth
focal animal
the subject animal on which the observer concentrates his attention
home range
area utilized by a troop
stereotyped
consistent in form
status hierarchy
the stable organization of dominance relationships of habitual patterns of conflict resolution among members of a group
brachiation
locomotion by arm-swinging
ethology
the study of animal behavior
