Survey of the Living Primates

Two Suborders: 1. Prosimians Includes lemurs, lorises, bush babies, tarsiers Includes lemurs, lorises, bush babies, tarsiers 2. Anthropoids Includes monkeys, apes and humans Includes monkeys, apes and humans This division means that the prosimians have more traits/adaptations in common with each other than they do with the Anthropoids. Likewise, monkeys, apes and humans share more in common with each other than any of them do with the more primitive prosimians

The Prosimians A. Characteristics 1. Most primitive (ancestral) 2. Small bodied 3. Sensory anatomy different a. More reliant on olfaction (smell) a. More reliant on olfaction (smell) as evidenced by: i. Long snouts ii. Moist, fleshy nose iii. Mark territory with scent b. Nocturnal i. Large eyes (not protected by bony anatomy) ii. No color vision 4. Insectivores 4. Insectivores (all teeth are very sharp, more specialized) 5. Solitary 5. Solitary (helps them to avoid attention of predators) 6. Claws instead of nails

PROSIMIANS, cont. B. Lemurs – largest group of prosimians 1. Found only on island of Madagascar 2. Evolved independently from other prosimians 3. DIURNAL 3. DIURNAL (no competition w/other primates) 4. Omnivorous 5. Arboreal quadrupeds, vertical clingers, leapers 6. Ring tailed lemur is terrestrial

PROSIMIANS, cont. C. Lorises - small bodied, nocturnal, slow quadrupedal climbers D. Bush babies – extremely agile vertical clinger & leaper

Tarsiers E. Center of classification debate Has characteristics of both prosimians & anthropoids Has characteristics of both prosimians & anthropoids a. Dry nose b. Color vision (limited) c. Carnivorous – eats lizards, frogs, insects d. Form monogamous pairs e. Park young in trees while foraging f. Can rotate head 360° Tarsier video quick clip Tarsier video quick clip

The Anthropoids: Monkeys, Apes & Humans 1. Large body size 2. Large brains 3. Diurnal 4. Enhanced color vision 5. Live in social groups 6. Primarily fruit eaters 7. Dry noses Divided into New World Monkeys (Platyrrhines) and the Old World Monkeys (Catarrhines)

New World Monkeys, Cont. Marmosets and tamarins Most primitive NWM Most primitive NWM Very small Very small Claws Claws Insectivores/Gum Insectivores/Gum Use scent marking Use scent marking Twin births Twin births Monogamous pairs Monogamous pairs Highly endangered species Highly endangered species

New World Monkeys (Platyrrhines) A. Characteristics 1. Found only in southern Mexico, Central America and South America 2. Widely spaced, outward facing nostrils 3. Prehensile (grasping) tail 4. Three premolars (36 teeth total) 5. Almost exclusively arboreal 6. Quadrupedal 7. Capuchin monkeys use tools to crack nuts

Old World Monkeys (Catarrhines) A. Characteristics 1. Wide geographical distribution 2. Downward facing nose, closely spaced nostrils 3. Sexually dimorphic (differences in body/tooth size between males & females) 4. Two premolars (32 teeth total) 5. Have “sitting pads” (ischial callosities) Two main groups: The Cercoptihecines & the Colobines

Old World Monkeys (Catarrhines) A. Cercopithecines = Baboons, Macaques, and Guenons 1. Majority found in Africa 2. Omnivorous a. Cheek pouches to store food 3. Quadrupedal 4. Baboons most terrestrial a. Quadrupedal b. Large, complex social groups called troops groups called troops

Catarrhine (Old World) Monkeys, Cont. B. The Colobines = African colobus monkeys and Asian langur monkeys 1. Leaf-eaters a. Sharp cusped molars b. Specialized stomach for digesting cellulose c. “Banquet feeders” – stay in one place 2. Arboreal quadrupeds

Summary: Differences between NWM & OWM New World Monkeys New World Monkeys  Flat, widely spaced nostrils  Prehensile tails  Three premolars (36 teeth)  Mostly arboreal Old World Monkeys Old World Monkeys  Downward pointing, closely spaced nostrils  Sitting pads  Two premolars (32 teeth)

The Hominoids: Apes & Humans Increased brain size & intelligence Increased brain size & intelligence Larger body size Larger body size Do not have tails Do not have tails Increased social complexity Increased social complexity Possess rotating, suspensory shoulders that allows arm-hanging & arm-swinging (brachiation) Possess rotating, suspensory shoulders that allows arm-hanging & arm-swinging (brachiation)

The Hylobatidae Family (Lesser Apes) The Hylobatidae Family (Lesser Apes) A. Gibbons & Siamangs 1. Inhabit southeastern tropical areas of Asia 2. Smallest of apes 3. Entirely arboreal 4. Move by brachiation 5. Highly frugivorous 6. Very vocal & territorial 7. Monogamous pair with dependent offspring

The Pongidae Family (The Great Apes) The Pongidae Family (The Great Apes) A. Orangutans: The Asian Ape - Name means “person of the forest” 1. Found only in Borneo & Sumatra 2. Fully arboreal 3. Omnivorous; Use sticks to get termites or honey (Sumatran orangs) 4. Pronounced sexual dimorphism 5. Solitary; do not live in social groups 6. Extremely endangered

B. Gorillas 1. Largest of all living primates 2. Live in forested regions across central & western Africa a. Lowland and Mountain gorillas 3. Marked sexual dimorphism a. Males = 400 lbs.; Females = lbs. 4. Vegetarian

B. Gorillas (Continued) 5. Quadrupedal knuckle-walkers when on ground 6. Live in social groups a. Dominant male silverback is leader 7. Mountain gorilla population = approximately 600

C.Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) 1. Found in forests of equatorial Africa 2. Live in large, fluid communities a. Occupy a territory defended by males b. Centered around bonded males c. Females emigrate out when they reach sexual maturity 3. Arboreal & terrestrial 4. Slight sexual dimorphism

C. Chimpanzees (Cont.) 5. Knuckle-walkers, brachiators, & sometimes bipedal 6. Omnivorous 7. Hunt for meat 8. Make & use tools

D.Bonobos (Pan paniscus) 1. Found only in the Congo 2. More slender than chimps 3. More arboreal than chimps 4. Large, fluid communities a. Center around bonded males & bonded females b. Can be female dominant 5. Less aggressive & excitable than chimps

D. Bonobos, cont. 6. More prone to bipedality 7. Sexual practices a. Sex outside of estrus b. Use to form alliances & gain acceptance c. Use to restore harmony & relieve tension

E. The Hominids: Humans 1. Only living representative of Hominid family 2. Primate heritage evident in overall anatomy & genetic make up 3. Teeth similar to that of apes 4. Vision/sight predominant sense 5. Flexible limbs, grasping hands 6. Omnivorous

What separates humans from non-human primates? Humans have culture – used as primary means of adaptation Humans have culture – used as primary means of adaptation Humans can produce speech Humans can produce speech Sex not confined to female’s most fertile period Sex not confined to female’s most fertile period Humans are the only true habitual bipedal mammals Humans are the only true habitual bipedal mammals

Primate Family Tree Anthropoids Prosimians New World Monkeys Old World Monkeys Cercopithecines & ColobinesHominoids Hylobatidae (Lesser Apes) Pongidae (Great Apes)