Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
Why study primates? What specific characteristics resemble humans?
|
Our closest living relatives--share many characteristics, give us insight into human evolution
|
Evolutionary history, anatomy, behavior, life history patterns, physiology and cognition
|
|
What is homology? Analogy?
|
Similarity based on common ancestry used to assign organisms to the same taxon (ex. humans and primates)
|
Similarities based on convergent evolution--independently evolved to serve a similar function (ex. dolphins and sharks--bodies adapted for similar fxn: size, body shape; fins, tails, oceani)
|
|
How did the evolution of primate lineages lead to hominoids? How did hominoids lead to hominins?
|
Living primates--> prosimians and anthropoids, anthropoids--> new world monkeys and old world primates, old world primates--> old world monkeys and apes & humans (hominoids)
|
Hominoids--> lesser apes (gibbons), great apes (orangutans, gorillas, chimps, banobos), and hominins (humans!)
|
|
What were Miocene Apes (Proconsul africanus) like? What were some examples of mid-late Miocene Hominoids?
|
East Africa 23-18 mya, warm climate/open woodlands, size of rhesus monkey, likely direct ancestor of modern apes and humans
|
Kenyapithecus (Africa), Sivapithecus (Asia), Dryopithecus and Oreopithecus (Europe)--appear 15-20 mya
|
|
What are general adaptive traits of primates in relation to anatomy? Lifestyle? (keep in mind these are NOT unique to primates)
|
Opposable big toe and prehensile hands for grasping, flat nails on hands and feet instead of claws, larger brains relative to body size than other mammals, clavicle
|
omnivorous, highly developed visual sense, usually single births, prolonged gestation/post-natal period of dependence, emphasis on learning and complex behaviors
|
|
What are the two most important traits of primates?
|
Big brains & highly social!
|
|
|
Why did brain size increase?
|
Demands of foraging, demands of living in social groups, behavioral flexibility allows for problem-solving and learning from others
|
|
|
Primate behavior or mammalian behavior?
|
Mammalian patterns seen in primates: female phylopatry/male dispersal, polygyny common, little paternal/extensive maternal care
|
Primate patterns: Sociality common & complex, emphasis on visual & vocal communication, increasing cognitive problem-solving abilities
|
|
What are some prosimian adaptations? Example of prosimians?
|
Large eyes/sensitive nocturnal vision, well-developed sense of smell, large independently mobile ears, different brain organization, unique locomotor adaptations, generally less social
|
ex. Lemurs--33 species, nocturnal, diurnal, live in Madagascar
|
|
How did anthropoids vary from prosimians in evolutionary history?
|
Greater emphasis on vision/diminished olfactory ability, diurnal, larger body size and larger relative neocortex, more social and flexible behavior
|
|
|
In terms of anthropoid monkeys, how do terrestrial compare to arboreal?
|
Usually larger-bodied, more sexual dimorphism (more male aggression), males emigrate (females are core of group)
|
|
|
How do New World Monkeys (platyrrhines) compare to Old World Monkeys (catarrhines)?
|
Cebodeia (NWM)--Highly arboreal, some have prehensile tails, variable social structure
|
Cercopithecoidea (OWM)--Widely distributed in Africa & Asia, exhibit variability in: arboreality, social organization, and diet
|
|
What species does 'hominoids' include? What are some characteristics of hominoids?
|
Gibbons, siamangs, gorillas, chimps, bonobos, and humans
|
No tails, unique locomotion (brachiators to swing from trees and knuckle-walkers), widely divergent social organization, great apes capable of complex problem-solving and learning
|
|
What are specific characteristics of lesser apes (gibbons and siamsangs)?
|
SE Asian forests, frugivores/insects/small animals, small (~3 ft), low sexual dimorphism, efficient brachiators (long arms/slender bodies)
|
|
|
What are characteristics of Orangutans (Asian Great Apes)?
|
Living in Indonesia (2 surviving species), large bodies, pronounced sexual dimorphism, more arboreal (climb slowly), eat fruit/bark/leaves/insects, often solitary but social if opportunity
|
|
|
What are some qualities of Gorillas (African Great Apes)?
|
Central Africa (3 surviving species), very large bodies (400 lbs...double orangutan), marked sexual dimorphism, folivores (eat LOTS of leaves), knuckle-walkers
|
|
|
What are some characteristics of Chimpanzees (African Great Apes)?
|
Pan Troglodytes--W/E/Central Africa (forested & open areas), eat fruit/leaves/birds' eggs (males occasionally hunt for meat), large body size, sexual dimorphism, multimale-multifemale groups, MALE bonding--promiscuous mating system!
|
|
|
What are some characteristics of Bonobos (African Great Apes)?
|
Pan paniscus--only in Democratic Republic of Congo (forest habitat), diet like chimps (except more vegetation/no hunting), slightly smaller/more gracile than chimps, multimale-multifemale groups, FEMALE bonding, use sex acts to avoid conflict!
|
|
|
How do platyrrhines differ from catarrhine anthropoids?
|
New World Monkeys (platyrrhines) have a broad nose, three premolars, a prehensile tail and are arboreal. Old World Primates (catarrhines) have narrow noses, two premolars, and non-prehensile tails
|
|
|
What are the three families in the hominoid group?
|
The Lesser Apes (hylobates)--gibbons and siamsangs, the Great Apes (pongids)--orangutans, gorillas, chimps, and humans (hominids)
|
|
|
What are some skeletal adaptations for bipedalism compared to ape anatomy?
|
Human spine is S-shaped and exits from the center, pelvis is bowl-shaped, femurs angle inward, knees support more weight
|
Ape spine exits from rear of skull, only slight curve, apie pelvis is longer/narrow, femurs angle out, knees hold less weight
|