Human Evo Exam 3

Front 1

Describe the scientific names of any primates we’ve covered in lab in binomial nomenclature.

Back 1

This system uses the genus and species to give each species a distinct name in latin that can be recognized worldwide, regardless of the language spoken.
Pongo Pygmaeus
Gorilla Gorilla
Pan Triglodytes (chimp)
Pan Paniscus (bonobo)
Homo Sapien (if you don't know this, drop out of college)

Front 2

Compare and contrast the concepts homology and analogy in an evolutionary context.

Back 2

A <homology> is a trait which two animals share because of their shared ancestry. An example is the vertebral column present in all vertebrate animals.

In contrast to homologies, <analogies> are traits that seem to be similar between two different animals, but have actually evolved in parallel in two different evolutionary lineages.

Bats and Birds have similar bone structure but no similar ancestry.

Front 3

Define the order Primates using derived traits common to its members.

Back 3

An opposable great toe (Humans are an exception!)
Nails instead of claws on hands and feet
An auditory bulla derived from the petrosal bone  An increased reliance on vision, including the ability to perceive distances (stereoscopic vision) and color. This reliance has a suite of associated neurological and anatomical traits
A postorbital bar, a ring of bone that surrounds the eye, stabilizing it and isolating it from the actions of the chewing muscles
A decreased reliance on the sense of smell when foraging for food or looking for mates
An extended period of juvenile development, and remaining in a natal group for a longer period of time
A smaller number of infants (usually only one) born per birth
An enlarged brain relative to body size
Increasingly complex social organization and behavior

Front 4

What makes a primate a primate?

Back 4

Larger body size
Larger brain size
Decreased reliance on smell
Increased reliance on olfaction
Long gestation
Increase reliance on learned behavior.

Front 5

Explain the primate taxonomy as covered in the lab manual or in your lab.

Back 5

(In order to accomplish this, referring to the taxonomies on page 100 of your manual and in the file “Living Primates” in the folder Week 10 - Primate Behavior (found in Module 3) is highly recommended.)

Front 6

Strepsirrhini (Prosimians)

Back 6

Unique physical traits of animals in this group: grooming claw, tooth comb, etc.

Front 7

There’s one primate that, based on skeletal traits, doesn’t fit into this group, yet the traditional taxon (i.e., prosimians) contains this lilliputian misfit. Which primate is this?

Back 7

Tarsiers have a bony septum, no tapedum lucidum, no moist rhinarium, and DNA evidence places them closer to anthropoids.

Front 8

Strepsirhini

Back 8

A dental toothcomb, used for social and solitary grooming
Grooming claw on the 2nd toe
Reliant on smell
Scent glands
Moist rhinarium (nose)
nocturnal
Has a tapetum lucidum

Front 9

Haplorrhini (Anthropoids)

Back 9

Dry nose
more derived traits
Postorbital septum
EX: Tarsiers, NWM, OWM, Apes
Dinural
No tapetum lucidum

Front 10

Catarrhini

Back 10

Downward directed nostrils
2.1.2.3.
Bony ear tube (Eustachian tube)

Front 11

Platyrrhini

Back 11

Nostrils face outward
2.1.3.2. or 2.1.3.2.
Lack bony ear tube
Prehensile tail
Tree dwellers

Front 12

Hominoidea

Back 12

Superfamily
includes humans
go wild

Front 13

Using provided descriptions, classify primates into one of the social organizations listed on page 120.

Back 13

Front 14

Nocturnal

Back 14

Awake at night.

Front 15

Diurnal

Back 15

Awake during the day.

Front 16

Cathemeral

Back 16

Being active at any given time during the day or night.

Front 17

Crepuscular

Back 17

Being active only at dusk or dawn

Front 18

Classify primate taxa as either specialists or generalists based on provided verbal descriptions of their diets.

Back 18

Specialists: “Organisms that display a
narrow pattern of resource usage.”
Sympatric species: species “occurring
together in the same geographic area.

Generalists: “organisms that display a
broad pattern of resource usage.”

Front 19

What is the most sexually dimorphic bone in the human body? In other words, which bone is the best for determining the sex of a skeleton?

Back 19

Pelvis
Using:
Subpubic Angle
Greater sciatic notch
Wide versus narrow sacrum

Front 20

What other skeletal features help you determine the sex of an individual?

Back 20

Slanting of the frontal bone
Size of the mastoid process
superior margin of the eye orbit

Front 21

What's the difference between the epiphysis and the diaphysis?

Back 21

Epiphysis is the rounded end of a long bone; the secondary center of ossification

Diaphysis is the shaft of the long bone; the primary center of ossification

Front 22

Why are some bones fused and not others?

Back 22

Bones fuse as an individual ages, and fusion varies between bones and individuals. that is why aging a skeleton is not an exact science.

Front 23

What is the "traditional" primate taxonomy versus the new primate taxonomy? Why did it change?

Back 23

Traditional taxonomy splits primates into the suborders:
prosimians and anthropoids.
The new taxonomy moves tarsiers to the anthropoid side, and renames the two groups:
strepsirhines (prosimians)
and
haplorhines (anthropoids + tarsiers)

Front 24

What is a primitive versus a derived trait?

Back 24

Primitive traits are traits than an animal shares with its ancestors.
Derived traits are traits that are not shared with an animals ancestors.