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Primate Ecology > Taxonomy, Distribution and Adaptation > Flashcards

Taxonomy, Distribution and Adaptation Flashcards

1
Q

What is taxonomy?

A

Taxonomy is the scientific naming of categories of organisms.

Categories are decided using traits such as; morphology, genetics, behaviour, pelage (skin colour) and vocalisations.

Scientists use the Linnean classifcation system.

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2
Q

How many primate species and subspecies are currently recognised?

A

Presently there are 504 species of primates and a total of 701 species and subspecies overall.

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3
Q

Why has there been a large increase (109 new species/subspecies) since 1990?

A

This has been due to an increase in field research, the advancement of genetic technology and also deforestation has lead to better access to isolated areas.

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4
Q

What primates are grouped into Strepsirrine and Haplorrhine?

A

Strepsirrine; lemurs, lorises

Haplorrhines: new world monkeys, apes and humans and tarsiers

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5
Q

What is the classification of primates?

A

Superfamily: - oidea

  • Ceboidea - New world monkeys
  • Cercopithecoidea - Old world monkeys

Family: - idae

  • Atelidae - Howlers, Spider monkeys, Wooly monkeys
  • Callitrichidae - Marmosets and Tamarins

Subfamily: - inae

  • Galaginae - galagos
  • Ponginae - Orangutans
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6
Q

Give an example of alternative classification in primates.

A

Suborders:

  • Prosimii; Lemurs, Lorises, galagos and tarsiers
  • Anthropoidea; Monkeys, Apes and Humans.

Updated suborders:

  • Strepsirhini; Lemurs, Lorises and Galagos
  • Haplorhini; Tarsiers, Monkeys, Apes and Humans
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7
Q

What trait are the sub orders Strepsirhini and Haplorhini based on?

A

Strepsirhini - wet nosed

Haplorhini - dry nosed

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8
Q

What species are found in the primitive suborder Prosimii?

A

Lemuriformes and Lorisiformes.

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9
Q

Where are Prosimians found in the world?

A

Africa, Asia and Indonesia

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10
Q

Why is the fossil record so scarce?

A

Because developing into a fossil is very remote.

Fossil record is very limited because of the specialised conditions required to turn into a fossil.

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11
Q

List Prosimian characteristics.

A

Old world

Large eyes

Most are nocturnal

Tapetum (layer of cells that cause ‘eye shine’)

Independently mobile ears

Immobile upper lip

Wet nose

(Immobile upper lip due to wet nose because they’re connected which limits facial expressions.)

Rely on scent marking (Rely on olfaction much more than other primates. Scent glands in their wrists which they secrete on themselves or trees as a form of communication and vocal calls.)

2.1.3.3 (more primitive dental pattern)

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12
Q

What are the characteristics or Strepsirhine (Lemurs and Lorises)

A

Laterally flaring heel bone.

Reduced upper incisors.

Grooming claw (Used in grooming and allogrooming. Characterisitcs not found in anthropoids.)

Dental comb (Used for grooming and scraping bark off trees when foraging. )

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13
Q

What is the main mode of locomotion for Lemurs and Lorises?

A

Vertical clinging and leaping.

Hold onto substrate with hands and feet. Jump backwards, turn in the air and land forwards onto the next substrate.

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14
Q

What are the characteristics found in Lemurs?

A

Matrilineal (Female dominance has evolved to compensate for high food quality all the time for reproduction. )

They are only found on Madagascar. (Lemurs have an adaptive radiation when they got to madagascar.

Adaptive radiation : very quickly in a small amount of time you get many species because of the many niches.)

Smaller Lemurs tend to be nocturnal, insectivorous and solitary (or in small groups because they are insectivorous they tend to be solitary. Insects are very spread out and hard to find so impractical to live in large social groups.)

Example species; Mouse lemur, Aye-aye and Bamboo Lemur.

Larger lemurs tend to be diurnal with diverse diets and social organisations. Some are arboreal and others terrestrial.

Example species; Indris & Sifakas, Brown lemurs.

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15
Q

What are the theories of how Lemurs arrived on Madagascar and why weren’t they successful on mainland Africa?

A

When there’s a hurricane there can be raft vegetation for miles long.

They diversified very quickly on an evolutionary time scale.

No lemurs remaining on mainland africa. On madagascar there is lack of predation in comparison to africa. Example; Megaladapis - size of a bear but were hunted to extinction.

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16
Q

What are the two families found under lorisiformes?

A

Galagidae (galagos/ bush baby)

Lorisidae (loris)

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17
Q

What is the typical locomotion for galagos and lorises?

A

Galagos use vertical clinging and leaping, while lorises are slow climbing and walking.

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18
Q

What are the characteristics of Lorisiformes?

A

Strictly nocturnal

Shared common ancestor with lemurs in the Eocene (55 million years ago)

Lorises did not become diurnal because they use a freezing tactic against predators which is much more effective at night.

Lorisiformes are solitary, pair-bonded or found in small groups.

Diet - insects and fruit.

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19
Q

Describe the lorisiforme distribution

A

Lorisidae are found in asia and africa, galagidae are only found in africa.

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20
Q

What are the general characteristics of species found in the sub-order, Anthropoidea (Haplorrhini)

A

These include; Tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans.

They’re all diurnal except owl monkeys and Tarsiers.

Rely less on olfaction than prosimians.

Dry noses

Flatter faces

Reduced sense of hearing (non-mobile ears except tarsiers)

Mobile upper lip - more expressive faces.

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21
Q

What are the characteristics of Tarsiers?

A

Only one living genus

Found in south east asia

Largest eyes relative to body size of any living creature. Eyes can’t move in eye sockets.

Solitary or pair–living when nursing offspring.

Elongated tarsal bones making them great leapers. This makes them excellent hunters.

Only completely carnivorous primate.

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22
Q

What Tarsier traits are grouped into Anthropoid and prosimian?

A

Anthropoid traits:

  • Dry nose
  • Flatter face
  • No tapetum (layer of cell causing eye shine)
  • Post orbital closure (eye sockets are completely enclosed in bone)

Prosimian traits

  • Unfused mandibular symphysis (lower part of the jaw isn’t fused)
  • Bicorunate uterus (they can have more than one baby at a time)
  • Grooming claw on both hind feet.
  • Large mobile ears
23
Q

Give the traits used to group species into the infraorders; Playrrhini and Catarrhini.

A

Platyrrhini

  • Flat, side facing nostrils
  • New world monkeys

Catarrhini

  • Downward facing nostrils
  • Old world monkeys
  • Apes and humans
24
Q

Give the traits of New world monkeys

A
  • All have tails
  • Several families have prehensile tails
  • Smaller body size than OWM
  • All arboreal
  • 36 teeth 2.1.3.3
25
Q

Why aren’t there any terrestrial new world monkeys?

A

New world monkeys are found in south america and mexico. It is thought there is greater predation pressure on the ground in the neotropics.

Another theory is a product of ecology because there isn’t much savannah habitat in the new world so not much opportunity for terrestrial evolution.

26
Q

What are the families of new world monkeys?

A 
Callitrichidae
Atelidae
Cebidae
Pithecidae
Aotidae
27
Q

What species are in the family Callitrichidae and their traits?

A

Marmosets and Tamarins

  • They have re-developed claws.
  • Twinning common
  • Pair bonds or Polyandry (Female will mate with two males so both invest in offspring so female can eat because of very high metabolic rate due to small body size. )
28
Q

What species are in the family Atelidae and their traits?

A

Spider monkeys, Howler monkeys and Muriquis.

  • Prehensile tail is used like a third hand.
  • No female philopatry
29
Q

What are some of the characterisitics found in the genus Alouatta (howler monkey)?

A

Loudest primate (Roar is used for spacing so everyone knows where each other is to stop competition for food. They do this instead of fighting because they have to spend most of the time digesting leaves.)

Not much dominance because everyone has access to food.

Courtship display - sticks tongue out.

30
Q

What species are in the family Cebidae and their traits?

A

Capuchins and squirrel monkeys.

  • Largest brain to body ratio
  • semi prehensile tail
  • multi male/multi female groups
31
Q

What species are in the family Pithecidae?

A

Titi monkeys, Uakari monkeys, saki and bearded monkeys.

32
Q

What is the theory behind the red faces of the bald headed uakari monkey in the genus Cacajao?

A

Red face - changes with physiological things within individuals. Redder the face shows higher immunity to malaria. Because of this they tend to mate with more females because the male is of better quality.

33
Q

What are the two old world monkey subfamilies of Cercopithecoidea?

A

Cercopithecinae and Colobinae

34
Q

What species are found in the sub family Cercopithcinae?

A

Mangabeys

Baboons

Guenons

Macaques

Mandrills and Drills]

Vervets

Patas monkeys

35
Q

What are the benefits of the food pouches found developed in Cercopithicinae?

A

Benefits - Lower ranking females can store high quality food.

If high quality food is found it can be stored and can be eaten in peace later on often by subordinate females.

36
Q

What is meant by an evolutionary arms race?

A

Evolutionary arms race - behavioural strategies developed to get around a problem and then in the future another method is developed to get around the previous behavioural adaptation.

37
Q

Give an overview of the social structure, unit and mating system of Gelada baboons

A

Strict maternal dominance. Ranks are inherited. The youngest daughter gets the highest rank.
Complex societies, multi male and female. Males leave the group with kin to avoid inbreeding.

38
Q

What species are found in the subfamily Colobinae and what sadaptation do the possess?

A

Leaf specialising and have a chambered stomach for foregut fermentation. (Multi chambered stomach to allow foregut fermentation. Unlike us where we have hind gut fermentation.

The cellulose needs to be broken down by bacteria to maximize digestion time)

  • Colobus
  • Langurs
  • Odd-nosed monkeys
39
Q

describe some of the traits in the Probiscus monkey

A

High sexual dimorphism. Fatty nose pad for attracting females (better health and the further their alarm call goes so better protectors). Babies have distinctive natal coat. Theory to encourage other adults to notice baby and care for it (allomothering)

One of the only primates with webbing between their toes to swim easily because they live in the sri lankan swamp forests.

Knowledge is limited because they’re hard to access.

40
Q

What are the two families found in the superfamily, Hominoidea?

A

Hylobatidae and Hominidae

41
Q

What species are found in the family, Hylobatidae?

A

Gibbons and Siamangs

42
Q

What species are and under what genus are found in the family, Hominidae?

A

Ponginae - Orangutans

Homininae - 
Gorillas
Chimpanzees
Bonobos
Humans
43
Q

What are the defining characteristics found in the family Hylobatidae?

A

Pair bonded - pairs breed and stay together for a period of time but don’t stay together. Female will pair bond but mate with another. This could be because one has better fatherly qualities but other male is bigger and stronger.

Siamangs have an air sac which is used to ‘sing’ in order to determine spacial awareness and territory.

44
Q

Describe some of the traits, interms of social structure and mating system found in Organutans

A

Solitary males and females. Females travel with offspring and juvenile males stays with mother for 8 to 9 years.

The large cheeks are signs of alpha males although solitary. This is because they fight for particular territories. If they lose, the cheeks deflate.

Orangutan rape because females are vulnerable as they travel alone with dependent offspring. Limited by their ability to access good food so they’re solitary.

45
Q

Describe the social structure of mountain western lowland gorillas and why infanticide can take place.

A

Mountain, western lowland, lowland river gorillas. Males are twice the size of females. Alpha male with multi females but sometime there can be two adult males.

New males will enter group and kill infant of previous alpha males so he can mate with her and not waste time caring for offspring that aren’t related to him.

Strong bonds between males and females to stop infants from being killed by other males and for protection.

46
Q

Why were Bonobos originally called ‘pygmy chimpanzees’?

A

Because they look very similar to chimpanzees but are less muscular.

47
Q

Describe some of the traits in terms of social structure, unit and mating system found in chimpanzees

A

Chimps are male bonded and females leave at sexual maturity. Males defend each other in fights and will defend their territory. Rival group was recorded to systematically hunt down and kill all males from rival group.

Females have dominance hierarchies.

Fission - fusion societies smaller groups when feeding to avoid competition and after a couple of days they come back into a community.

48
Q

Why are chimpanzees a conservation concern for the red-colobus monkey?

A

Although chimps don’t need meat to survive, they enjoy the taste of red-Colobus and are hunting them close to extinction.

49
Q

Describe some of the social behaviours in Bonobos and their social structure

A

When their is an issue in the social group it is worked out by having sex. For food disputes, to reduce stress etc.

Male bonded and females leave at sexual maturity but group is led by alpha female.

50
Q

What does Hominini mean?

A

Monotypic tribe (tribe is a subdivision of family)

51
Q

What species are included in Hominini?

A

Only humans

52
Q

What species are included in Hominoidea?

A

Humans and apes

53
Q

What species are included in Hominidae?

A

Orangutans, gorillas, chimps, bonobos and humans.

Primate Ecology (14 decks)

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