Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one...
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Transcript of Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one...
Why Study Primates?Why Study Primates?
Light shall be thrown on Light shall be thrown on humanity’s historyhumanity’s history
The human family
is but one branch on the tree of
life.
We’re essentially studying We’re essentially studying ourselvesourselves
Demonstrate our biological heritage as Demonstrate our biological heritage as primates.primates.
Cast light on basic human behaviors and their Cast light on basic human behaviors and their ancestry.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.
Behavior Doesn’t FossilizeBehavior Doesn’t Fossilize
Understanding of chimp behavior today helps us to understand the Understanding of chimp behavior today helps us to understand the ways in which our early ancestors may have behaved because any ways in which our early ancestors may have behaved because any behaviors shared by the modern chimps and modern humans was behaviors shared by the modern chimps and modern humans was probably in the common ancestor of humans and chimps and if it 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 present in the common ancestor, therefore it was present in the early humans.humans.
What Makes A Primate A Primate?What Makes A Primate A Primate?
What, Exactly, Is A Primate?What, Exactly, Is A Primate?Here are some hintsHere are some hints
Limbs and locomotionLimbs and locomotion Senses & the brain
Diet and teeth
Trunk VerticalityTrunk Verticality
Tendency toward erect Tendency toward erect posture shown in all posture shown in all primates.primates.
Variously associated Variously associated with sitting, leaping, with sitting, leaping, standing, and, standing, and, occasionally, bipedal occasionally, bipedal walking.walking.
Flexible, generalized limb structureFlexible, generalized limb structure Retained some bones Retained some bones
(clavicle) lost in many (clavicle) lost in many other mammals.other mammals.
Retained some abilities Retained some abilities (forearm rotation) lost in (forearm rotation) lost in many other mammals.many other mammals.
Limbs used for activities Limbs used for activities other than locomotion.other than locomotion.
Two separate lower arm bonesTwo separate lower arm bones
Flexible shouldersFlexible shoulders
Prehensile hands (& feet)Prehensile hands (& feet)
All primates use the All primates use the hands to grasp and hands to grasp and manipulate objects.manipulate objects.
And most also use their And most also use their feet for similar feet for similar purposes.purposes.
These capabilities are These capabilities are enhanced by a number enhanced by a number of characteristics.of characteristics.
Grasping handsGrasping hands
Pentadactyly (5 digits)Pentadactyly (5 digits)
Pentadactyly (cont.)Pentadactyly (cont.)Lemur (at left)
Aye-aye (at right)
Slow loris (showing grooming claw)
Sometimes 6-digitsSometimes 6-digits
An opposable thumbAn opposable thumb
Opposable ThumbsOpposable Thumbs
Nails instead of claws or hoovesNails instead of claws or hooves
Flat fingernails and toenailsFlat fingernails and toenails
Tactile PadsTactile Pads
Lack of Dietary SpecializationLack of Dietary Specialization
Generalized DentitionGeneralized Dentition
Three Kinds of TeethThree Kinds of Teeth
Seeing In ColorSeeing In Color
Primate Vision Cat Vision
No Color View
Seeing In Color IISeeing In Color II
Depth PerceptionDepth Perception
See in 3-D!!!!See in 3-D!!!!The Frankfurter ExperimentThe Frankfurter Experiment
Why Do Primates See in 3-D?Why Do Primates See in 3-D?
Forward Facing EyesForward Facing Eyes
Large brain-to-body-size ratioLarge brain-to-body-size ratio Primates brains 2-3 X larger than Primates brains 2-3 X larger than
non-primates of the same body non-primates of the same body weight. weight.
Horse brain more than 6 X bigger Horse brain more than 6 X bigger than that of the diminutive rhesusthan that of the diminutive rhesus
However, if the two animals However, if the two animals were the same size, the monkey’s were the same size, the monkey’s brain would be 20 times larger brain would be 20 times larger than the horse.than the horse.
What Do Primates Eat?What Do Primates Eat?
Where Do Primate Live?Where Do Primate Live?
Monkeys Use Monkeys Use SentencesSentences
PyowsPyows (leopards) and (leopards) and HacksHacks (crowned eagles) (crowned eagles)
Pyow-hack = move farther Pyow-hack = move farther and fasterand faster
Putty-nosed Guenon
String together 2 String together 2 different alarm calls different alarm calls to create a new to create a new messagemessage
Raccoon HandsRaccoon Hands Smooth, furless hands with five agile fingers.Smooth, furless hands with five agile fingers. Use fingers much the way Use fingers much the way primatesprimates do... to pick up food, to do... to pick up food, to
fish, to groom themselves and to carry things.fish, to groom themselves and to carry things. HOWEVER HOWEVER. . . . ..
Raccoons do NOT Raccoons do NOT have prehensile have prehensile
hands and can NOT hands and can NOT oppose their thumbs oppose their thumbs
or big toes.or big toes.
The word “raccoon” come The word “raccoon” come from the Algonquin Indian from the Algonquin Indian
word "arukun," which means word "arukun," which means "he who scratches with his "he who scratches with his
hands."hands."
Food or Food or Medicine?Medicine?
Gorillas @ salt lick
Parrots eating clay
Deer @ salt lick
Chimp eating Vernonia leaves