Chapter 5 An Overview the Primates Primates as Mammals Characteristics of Primates Primate Adaptations Primate Taxonomy A Survey of the Living Primates Endangered Primates

Primates As Mammals There are over 4,000 species of mammals. Primates are members of the placental subgroup. There are approximately 190 species of nonhuman primates (prosimians, monkeys, and apes)

Characteristics of Primates: Limbs and Locomotion Tendency toward erect posture. Flexible, generalized limb structure Engage in a number of locomotor behaviors.

Characteristics of Primates: Hands and Feet High degree of grasping ability. 5 digits on hand and feet. Opposable thumb and partially opposable great toe. Tactile pads enriched with sensory nerve fibers at the ends of digits.

Characteristics of Primates: Diet and Teeth Lack of dietary specialization and tend to eat a wide variety of foods. Generalized dentition, teeth are not specialized for processing one type of food.

Characteristics of Primates: Senses and the Brain Color vision (excerpt for nocturnal primates) Depth perception Decreased reliance on the sense of smell (olfaction) Expansion and increased complexity of the brain

Characteristics of Primates: Maturation, Learning, and Behavior Longer gestation, fewer offspring, delayed maturation, and longer life span. Greater dependence on flexible, learned behavior. Tendency to live in social groups. Tendency for diurnal activity patterns.

Primate Adaptations: Habitats Most are found in tropical or semitropical areas of the New and Old Worlds. Most are arboreal, living in forest or woodland habitats. Some Old World Monkeys have adapted to life on the ground. Gorillas and chimpanzees spend considerable time on the ground.

Primate Adaptations: Diet and Teeth Primates are generally omnivorous. Most eat a combination of fruits, leaves, and insects. Most have four types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars and molars.

Primate Adaptations: Locomotion Most are quadrupedal, using all four limbs in their locomotion. Brachiating (arm swinging) is found among the apes. Prehensile tails, found only among the New World Monkeys, are used as an aid to locomotion.

Primate Taxonomy Order: Primates Suborders: Prosimii and Anthropoidea At each succeeding level, finer distinctions are made until the species level is reached.

Prosimians: Lemurs, Lorises, Tarsiers Characteristics: Rely on olfaction Laterally placed eyes Shorter gestation and maturation periods Dental specialization - the "dental comb”

Anthropoids (Monkeys, Apes and Humans) Characteristics: Larger brain and body size Reduced reliance on the sense of smell Greater degree of color vision Bony plate at the back of the eye socket Longer gestation and maturation periods Fused mandible

Monkeys 70% of all primate species. Two groups separated by geographic area and several million years of evolutionary history. – New world monkeys – Old world monkeys

Hominoids (Apes and Humans) Characteristics: Larger body size Absence of a tail Shortened trunk Complex brain and enhanced cognitive abilities Longer infant development and dependency

Humans (Homo Sapiens) Only living species in the family Hominidae. Primate heritage is evident in anatomy, genetic makeup and aspects of behavior. Bipedal