Survey of the Living Primates

Two Suborders:

1. Prosimians Includes lemurs, lorises, bush

babies, tarsiers

2. Anthropoids 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 ProsimiansA. Characteristics

1. Most primitive (ancestral)2. Small bodied3. Sensory anatomy different

a. More reliant on olfaction (smell) as evidenced by:i. Long snoutsii. Moist, fleshy noseiii. Mark territory with scent

b. Nocturnali. Large eyes (not protected by bony anatomy)ii. No color vision

4. Insectivores (all teeth are very sharp, more specialized)

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 (no competition w/other primates) 4. Omnivorous5. Arboreal quadrupeds, vertical clingers,

leapers6. 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 &

anthropoidsa. Dry noseb. Color vision (limited)c. Carnivorous – eats lizards, frogs, insectsd. Form monogamous pairse. Park young in trees while foragingf. Can rotate head 360°

Tarsier video quick clip

The Anthropoids:Monkeys, Apes & Humans

1. Large body size2. Large brains3. Diurnal4. Enhanced color vision5. Live in social groups6. Primarily fruit eaters7. Dry noses

Divided into New World Monkeys (Platyrrhines) and the

Old World Monkeys (Catarrhines)

New World Monkeys, Cont.Marmosets and

tamarins Most primitive

NWM Very small Claws Insectivores/Gum Use scent marking Twin births Monogamous pairs Highly endangered

species

New World Monkeys (Platyrrhines)

A. Characteristics1. Found only in southern Mexico, Central

America and South America2. Widely spaced, outward facing nostrils3. Prehensile (grasping) tail4. Three premolars (36 teeth total)5. Almost exclusively arboreal6. Quadrupedal 7. Capuchin monkeys use tools to crack

nuts

Old World Monkeys(Catarrhines)

A. Characteristics1. Wide geographical distribution2. Downward facing nose, closely spaced

nostrils3. 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 Africa2. Omnivorous

a. Cheek pouches to store food

3. Quadrupedal4. Baboons most terrestrial

a. Quadrupedalb. Large, complex social groups called troops

Catarrhine (Old World)Monkeys, Cont.

B. The Colobines = African colobus monkeys and Asian langur monkeys

1. Leaf-eatersa. Sharp cusped molarsb. Specialized stomach for digesting cellulosec. “Banquet feeders” – stay in one place

2. Arboreal quadrupeds

Summary:Differences between NWM &

OWM New World Monkeys

Flat, widely spaced nostrils

Prehensile tails Three premolars (36

teeth) Mostly arboreal

Old World Monkeys Downward pointing,

closely spaced nostrils Sitting pads Two premolars (32

teeth)

The Hominoids:Apes & Humans

Increased brain size & intelligence Larger body size Do not have tails Increased social complexity Possess rotating, suspensory

shoulders that allows arm-hanging & arm-swinging (brachiation)

The Hylobatidae Family

(Lesser Apes)A. Gibbons & Siamangs

1. Inhabit southeastern tropical areas of Asia

2. Smallest of apes3. Entirely arboreal4. Move by brachiation5. Highly frugivorous6. Very vocal & territorial7. Monogamous pair with dependent

offspring

The Pongidae Family (The Great Apes)

A. Orangutans: The Asian Ape- Name means “person of the forest”

1. Found only in Borneo & Sumatra2. Fully arboreal3. Omnivorous; Use sticks to get termites or

honey (Sumatran orangs)4. Pronounced sexual dimorphism5. Solitary; do not live in social groups6. Extremely endangered

B. Gorillas

1. Largest of all living primates2. Live in forested regions across

central & western Africaa. Lowland and Mountain gorillas

3. Marked sexual dimorphisma. Males = 400 lbs.; Females = 150-200

lbs.

4. Vegetarian

B. Gorillas (Continued)5. Quadrupedal knuckle-walkers when

on ground6. 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 communitiesa. Occupy a territory defended by malesb. Centered around bonded malesc. Females emigrate out when they reach

sexual maturity3. Arboreal & terrestrial4. Slight sexual dimorphism

C. Chimpanzees (Cont.)5. Knuckle-walkers, brachiators, &

sometimes bipedal6. Omnivorous7. Hunt for meat8. Make & use tools

D. Bonobos (Pan paniscus)

1. Found only in the Congo2. More slender than chimps3. More arboreal than chimps4. Large, fluid communities

a. Center around bonded males & bonded females

b. Can be female dominant5. Less aggressive & excitable than

chimps

D. Bonobos, cont.

6. More prone to bipedality7. Sexual practices

a. Sex outside of estrusb. Use to form alliances & gain

acceptancec. Use to restore harmony & relieve

tension

E. The Hominids: Humans1. Only living representative of

Hominid family2. Primate heritage evident in overall

anatomy & genetic make up3. Teeth similar to that of apes4. Vision/sight predominant sense5. Flexible limbs, grasping hands6. Omnivorous

What separates humans from non-human primates?

Humans have culture – used as primary means of adaptation

Humans can produce speech Sex not confined to female’s most

fertile period Humans are the only true habitual

bipedal mammals

Primate Family Tree Primates

Anthropoids

Prosimians

New World Monkeys

Old World Monkeys

Cercopithecines & Colobines

Hominoids

Hylobatidae (Lesser Apes)

Pongidae (Great Apes)