1. Why Study Primates?

2. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life.

3. We’re essentially studying ourselves Demonstrate our biological heritage as primates. Demonstrate our biological heritage as primates. Cast light on basic human behaviors and their ancestry. Cast light on basic human behaviors and their ancestry. Window into the evolution of intelligence. Window into the evolution of intelligence. Understand the evolution of language. Understand the evolution of language. Understand the origins of culture. Understand the origins of culture.

4. Behavior Doesn’t Fossilize Understanding of chimp behavior today helps us to understand the ways in which our early ancestors may have behaved because any behaviors shared by the modern chimps and modern humans was probably in the common ancestor of humans and chimps and if it was present in the common ancestor, therefore it was present in the early humans. Understanding of chimp behavior today helps us to understand the ways in which our early ancestors may have behaved because any behaviors shared by the modern chimps and modern humans was probably in the common ancestor of humans and chimps and if it was present in the common ancestor, therefore it was present in the early humans.

5. What Makes A Primate A Primate?

6. What, Exactly, Is A Primate? Here are some hints Limbs and locomotion Senses & the brain Diet and teeth

7. Trunk Verticality Tendency toward erect posture shown in all primates. Tendency toward erect posture shown in all primates. Variously associated with sitting, leaping, standing, and, occasionally, bipedal walking. Variously associated with sitting, leaping, standing, and, occasionally, bipedal walking.

8. Flexible, generalized limb structure Retained some bones (clavicle) lost in many other mammals. Retained some bones (clavicle) lost in many other mammals. Retained some abilities (forearm rotation) lost in many other mammals. Retained some abilities (forearm rotation) lost in many other mammals. Limbs used for activities other than locomotion. Limbs used for activities other than locomotion.

9. Two separate lower arm bones

10. Flexible shoulders

11. Prehensile hands (& feet) All primates use the hands to grasp and manipulate objects. All primates use the hands to grasp and manipulate objects. And most also use their feet for similar purposes. And most also use their feet for similar purposes. These capabilities are enhanced by a number of characteristics. These capabilities are enhanced by a number of characteristics.

12. Grasping hands

13. Pentadactyly (5 digits)

14. Pentadactyly (cont.) Lemur (at left) Aye-aye (at right) Slow loris (showing grooming claw)

15. Sometimes 6-digits

16. An opposable thumb

17. Opposable Thumbs

18. Nails instead of claws or hooves

19. Flat fingernails and toenails

20. Tactile Pads

21. Lack of Dietary Specialization

22. Generalized Dentition

23. Three Kinds of Teeth

24. Seeing In Color Primate VisionCat Vision No Color View

25. Seeing In Color II

26. Depth Perception

27. See in 3-D!!!! The Frankfurter Experiment

28. Why Do Primates See in 3-D?

29. Forward Facing Eyes

30. Large brain-to-body-size ratio Primates brains 2-3 X larger than non-primates of the same body weight. Primates brains 2-3 X larger than non-primates of the same body weight. Horse brain more than 6 X bigger than that of the diminutive rhesus Horse brain more than 6 X bigger than that of the diminutive rhesus However, if the two animals were the same size, the monkey’s brain would be 20 times larger than the horse. However, if the two animals were the same size, the monkey’s brain would be 20 times larger than the horse.

31. What Do Primates Eat?

32. Where Do Primate Live?

33. Monkeys Use Sentences Pyows (leopards) and Hacks (crowned eagles) Pyow-hack = move farther and faster Putty-nosed Guenon String together 2 different alarm calls to create a new message

34. Raccoon Hands Smooth, furless hands with five agile fingers. Smooth, furless hands with five agile fingers. Use fingers much the way primates do... to pick up food, to fish, to groom themselves and to carry things. HOWEVER... Use fingers much the way primates do... to pick up food, to fish, to groom themselves and to carry things. HOWEVER...

35. Raccoons do NOT have prehensile hands and can NOT oppose their thumbs or big toes. The word “raccoon” come from the Algonquin Indian word "arukun," which means "he who scratches with his hands."

36. Food or Medicine? Gorillas @ salt lick Parrots eating clay Deer @ salt lick Chimp eating Vernonia leaves