Anth 171 Final
What are the first true primates that appear in the fossil record? When do they appear? How are they related to modern primates?
-Adapids and omomyids appear during the Eocene -Adapids are more similar to modern lemurs and lorises while Omomyids are linked to modern tarsiers
To what family do owl monkeys belong? What is unique about owl monkeys?
-Aotidae family -they are the only nocturnal new world monkey; they have secondarily derived large eyes and no tapetum lucidum
To what family do howler monkeys belong? What is unique about these monkeys compared to other primates? What is unique about their diet for New World monkeys?
-Atelidae -they are the loudest living land mammal (specialized hyoid bone) -they are also the only folivorous new world monkey
To what family do spider monkeys belong? How have they converged behaviorally on apes, and how is this reflected in their skeletons?
-Atelidae family -spider monkeys are suspensory in a way that is similar to apes (large bodied) convergence in their thorax shape/rib cage... they look more ape like than monkey like
Why has it been problematic to place tarsiers in the primate phylogenetic tree? What is unusual about the tarsier diet?
-Because they share characteristics with both strepsirrhines and Halporhines, have had essentially the same body plan since the Eocene, "living fossils" -Faunivorous diet- eats bugs and small lizards
To what family do marmosets and tamarins belong? What anatomical adaptations and aspects of social behavior make these monkeys unique?
-Callitrichidae -they have re-evolved some primitive traits, such as claws on some digits and a small body size. They also give birth to litters (twins, secondary derived traits) so the father usually gives an unusual amount of parental care
What shared derived traits distinguish catarrhines from other primates?
-Catterhines are known as raised rounded nosed primates. They have a 2:1:2:3 dental formula (bilophodont), downward facing nostrils, and temporal tube
To what family do capuchins belong? What behaviors are these monkeys known for? What enables them to conduct these activities?
-Cebinae family -Capuchins are known for being highly intelligent and commonly living in human environment. They are also known to use tools (hammerstones) with their large brains and dexterous hands that enable them to do so.
What family represents Old World monkeys? What shared derived traits distinguish this family from other primates?
-Cercopithecidae -ishial colosities (buttpads) and bilophodont
To which Old World monkey group does the mandrill belong? What is a distinguishing feature of the mandrill when compared to other primates (and mammals)? What type of selection has shaped this feature (be as specific as possible)?
-Cercopthecine; they are the brightest colored primates, males are 2x the size of females. Both of these features indicate high levels of male to male competition, shaped by intersexual selection
To which Old World monkey group does the macaque belong? What is extraordinary about macaques in regard to their geographic distribution?
-Ceropithecines; they are mostly found in Asia, but can also be found in Africa as well. They have the widest distribution of any genus
To what family do mouse lemurs belong? What is a distinguishing feature of mouse lemurs compared to all living primates?
-Cheriogaleidae - most primitive primate -smallest primate -nocturnal
To what family do dwarf lemurs belong? What is a distinguishing feature of dwarf lemurs compared to al living primates?
-Cheriogaleidae -they store fat in their tails when hibernating
To which Old World monkey group does the proboscis monkey belong? What distinguishing feature does the proboscis monkey have? What type of selection has shaped this feature (be as specific as possible)?
-Colobine -Feature: very large nose is an intersexually selected trait that helps them radiate sound
To which Old World monkey group do the colobus monkeys belong? Where are colobus monkeys found? Given the lack of fossils for the living colobus monkeys, how do we know when they diverged back in time? What evolutionary force helps us determine this, and how?
-Colobine -found in Africa; molecular clock -look at the rate mutations occurred and predict how long ago those mutations happened and when dna strands diverged
What are the two major groups of living Old World monkey? What distinguishes them from one another?
-Colobines (leaf eating monkeys): high-cusped molars, complex stomach, longer legs -Cercopithecines (cheek pouch monkeys): low cusped molars, cheek pouches, similar arm and leg length
To what family do aye-ayes belong? What is their foraging behavior similar to, and what distinguishing features do they have related to foraging?
-Daubentoniidae -their foraging behavior is similar to a woodpecker. long middle fingers to tap out hollow points in trees to help with hunting
To what family do galagos belong? Where are galagos found?
-Galagidae -mainland Africa
To what family do gorillas belong? What is the genus name for these primates? Where are they found? How many species are there? What is their social structure and mating system? What is their diet? Locomotion?
-Gorillas belong to the family hominidae and the genus gorilla -Gorillas are found in Africa -There are two different species: Western and Eastern Gorillas -Their diet is folivorous -Locomotion: suspensory, knuckle walking -one male, multi female, Polygynous (females and silverback male)
To what family do sifakas belong? What type of locomotion do all members of this family exhibit?
-Indridae -vertical clinging and leaping
To what family do ring-tailed lemurs belong? What is unusual about their locomotion compared to other lemurs?
-Lemuridae -unusual locomotion: terrestrial quadrupeds
To what family do lorises and pottos belong? Where are lorises and pottos found?
-Lorisidae -lorises- Asia Pottos- Africa
Where are lemurs found? Why does this place have such high levels of biodiversity?
-Madagascar -adaptive radiation that took place there and large island that split from mainland Africa and India millions of years ago leaving a great deal of unoccupied and ecological niches
When do platyrrhines first appear in the fossil record? From where do they likely originate? How did they most likely get to the New World?
-Oligocene (26 mya) -originate from mainland Africa -Most likely by rafting across the south Atlantic from Africa to South America
To what family does the white-faced saki belong? What type of diet does it have, and what adaptation does it have for this food resource?
-Pithecia family -it is granivorous and has large incisors and flat molars. The adaptation is that their incisors jut forward in order to crack seeds.
What are plesiadapiforms? When did they exist? What is their relevance to primate origins?
-Plesiadapiforms were the first wave of primate like mammals. -They existed in Paleocene (65-56.5Ma). -They have long fingers (well designed for grasping), and other features of the skeleton that are related to arboreality
What shared derived features unite the living apes?
-Y-5 molar pattern -suspensory adaptations -No tail
What behaviors do nearly all lemurs have in common?
-almost all species are seasonal breeders (allows for mating and birth synchrony, births occur during resource rich months) -Many species show female dominance -Many species lack sexual dimorphism
Why is the Miocene known as the "Age of Apes?" What is different about ape and monkey diversity in the Miocene compared to today?
-ape diversity was very great during the Miocene while monkey diversity was more limited; today the opposite is true where there are many more living monkey species than apes
Saharagalago
-belongs to the family Galagidae, found in Fayum
Compare and contrast chimpanzee and bonobo societies. How are they different? What might this tell us about human nature and evolution?
-chimps are violent, bonobos are peaceful -Bonobos and humans are the only species that use sex for anything other than reproduction; bonobos use it to resolve tension. -females are dominant and more female relationships in a bonobo community -This tells us that we are more similar to bonobos in our characteristics, but it offers insights as to whether we are a more peaceful or violent species. chimps use tools and bonobos have no evidence of tool use in the wild
What are features generally shared by the haplorhines?
-dry nose and detached upper lip -1 pair of mammary glands -reduced vibrissae -lack of vomeronasal organ -di or trichromatic vision -lack of claws -lack of tapetum lucidum -post orbital plate
When do Old World monkeys first appear in the fossil record, and what is an example of an early family/member of this group?
-first appear in the fossil record around the early miocene, however modern families occur by the mid miocene -ex: victoriapithecus- lived in Africa and Eurasia in the mid miocene
Where are Old World monkeys found, and what is outstanding about their distribution compared to other living non-human primates?
-found in Asia and Africa -they are distributed in very different environments (widest ranges); Japanese macaques (snow), baboons in high altitudes
To what family do chimpanzees and bonobos belong? What are the genus and species names for these primates? Where are they found? What is their social structure and mating system? What is their diet? Locomotion?
-hominidae -Chimps: pan troglodytes -Bonobo: pan paniscus -found in Africa -social structure: multi male, multi female, fission fusion -diet: frugivorous, can supplement with meat -locomotion: suspensory, knuckle walking
post-orbital bar
-loop of bone that encloses the eye -all primates have them (no closure in strepsirrhines)
What are the traits that distinguish platyrrhines from catarrhines?
-platyrrhines feature a 2:1:3:3 dental formula, flat nose nostrils outward, possible prehensile tail, exclusively arboreal
Visual Predation Hypothesis
-primate traits evolved due to predation by primates on small prey -unique primate traits arising as adaptations to preying on insects and small animals
What special adaptations do lorises have for their locomotion?
-slow climbing due to thumb being almost 180 degrees away from the rest of the fingers -increased blood flow to limbs and specialized big toe which allows them to tightly grasp branches
To which Old World monkey group does the gelada baboon belong? Where are modern gelada baboons found? What is unique about their diet? Their communication? What type of social system do they display?
-the gelada baboon belongs to Cercopithecine group. Modern gelada baboons are found in the highlands of Ethiopia. -Their diet is unique because they feed on blades of grass and have a very high foraging time. They have very large social groups (multi level society) and they also chatter to each other because their hands are always busy. Known as vocal grooming
Vibrissae
-whiskers, reduced in monkeys and apes -processing sensory info
K-Pg boundary
65 Ma, extinction of dinosaurs, herbivores and so on went extinct
tooth comb
Anterior teeth (incisors and canines) that have been tilted forward, creating a scraper.
What are the hypotheses that explain primate origins and primate homologous features?
Arboreal hypothesis, Visual predation hypothesis, and Angiosperm coevolution hypothesis
Turbinates
Bones that protrude into the nasal cavity- they increase surface area for filtering dust and dirt particles by the mucous membrane.
What traits do strepsirhines share? Which of these are shared derived traits as opposed to primitive mammalian retentions?
Derived: -dental comb -well developed sublingua Primitive: -rhinarium -prominent vibrissae -vomeronasal organ -dichromatic vision -grooming claw -retention of 2+ pairs of mammary glands
To what family do orangutans belong? What is the genus name for these primates? Where are they found? How many species are there? What is their social structure and mating system? What is their diet? Locomotion?
Family: Hominidae Genus: Pongo. They are found in Borneo and Sumatra. (SE ASIA) 2 species SS: noyau, Locomotion: quadrumanous climbing Diet:Frugivores
To what family do gibbons and siamangs belong? Where are they found? What is their social structure? Mating system? Diet?
Family: Hylobatidae Location: Asia Social Structure, mating system: pair-bonded, monogamous (less sexual dimorphism) Diet: Frugivorous
Adult social interactions within gorilla societies occur primarily among what individuals?
Females do not typically affiliate with non related females; most social interactions occur between adult females and the silverback male
What are two alternative mating strategies for adult male orangutans?
Flanged males: Call for a female and wait Unflanged males: roam and force copulations
What is unique about gibbon locomotion and how are they adapted to this mode of travel? How do they compare to other primates in regard to quickness and agility in the trees?
Gibbons are suspensory and they have very long fingers, and curved bones adapted to living in the trees, wrist is a ball socket joint. They are extremely quick and agile in the trees compared to other primates. brachiating
What is the largest primate to have ever lived?
Gigantopithecus
tapetum lucidum
Iridescent layer found in nocturnal animals for maximizing vision under low intensity light
When did lorises diverge from galagos? How do we know? From where is the evidence found?
Lorises and galagos represent the strepsirrhine adaptive radiation outside of Madagascar and are found on mainland Africa and Asia. Diverged in Eocene (25-55Ma)
What is highly unusual about the orangutan social structure? Why do they display this type of structure? Under what condition does their social structure change?
Orangutans don't really have social groups (Noyau social system) due to a lack of resources; males and females only come together to mate and males can attract females through their loud calls Their social structure can change if there are enough resources available and they all come together if there is more fruit
What is the threat status of orangutans? What is the primary threat they face in the wild? What is unusual about their interbirth interval?
Orangutans have an interbirth interval of 9 years which has lead to them being a critical endangered species. However, the primary threat they face in the wild is habitat loss (logging; palm oil)
Plesiadapiforms
Paleocene (65-56.5Ma) organisms that may have been the first primates, originating from an adaptive radiation of mammals.
Angiosperm Coevolution Hypothesis
Primate traits evolved in conjunction with the rise of angiosperms (flowering plants)
What is an example of a Miocene ape from Africa? Europe? Asia? What is unusual about the locomotion of some of these extinct apes compared to modern apes?
Proconsul (Africa) Dryopithecus (Europe) Sivapithecus (Asia) From their heads they looked much like modern apes, but their bodies resembled monkeys and moved more like an arboreal quadruped and not suspensory.
To what family do tarsiers belong? Where are tarsiers found?
Tarsiidae Tarsiers found in South East Asia
Rhinarium
The moist, hairless pad at the end of the nose seen in most mammalian species. The rhinarium enhances an animal's ability to smell.
What do we know (or not know) about lemur evolutionary history based on their fossil record?
There is virtually no fossil record; almost all evidence of lemurs is from the last few thousand years. temperature and humidy affect whether a skeleton turns into a fossil; We know that at least 17 species of lemurs have gone extinct; the species used to be much more diverse
Adapids and Omomyids
Two lineages of Eocene primates (56.5-35.4 Ma) -Adapids are lemur like primates -Omomyids closely resembled living tarsiers -known as NWM
What is the tarsier activity pattern? What adaptations does it show for this, and why is it unusual?
activity pattern is nocturnal. They have extremely large eyes, but they do not have a tapetum lucidum because the indication is that it used to be diurnal but reverted back to nocturnality
The Fayum
fossil remains exist from the Late Eocene in Africa at the Fayum
How do lorises and pottos differ from galagos in locomotion?
lorises/pottos slow climb and galagos vertically cling and leap
vomernasal organ
patch of sensory cells within the main nasal chamber that detects heavy moisture-borne odor particles.
Arboreal Hypothesis
primate traits evolved as a result of arboreal (living in trees) living
grooming claw
specialized claw or nail on the foot of certain primates, used for personal grooming (shared derived trait)
What is unusual about the leaf eating monkey infant/neonatal coat pattern?
the leaf eating monkey infants are always colored differently than older monkeys and then they develop the adult coloration once they are a certain age
sublingula
under the tongue: used to clean tooth comb