Primatology

The study of primates and how their behavior is similar to human behavior

Primate Characteristics (Mammal)

• Intelligence (brain size)• Live birth• Infant dependency• Efficient Respiratory

System– Mouth, nose, diaphragm,

4 chamber heart = more active

• Constant body temp.• Fewer bones• Specialized teeth

Why did primates emerge?

• 70 million years ago, climate changed

• Forests developed-no more swamps

• Forests provide food and habitat– ARBOREAL: tree dwelling– Chewing teeth– Prehensile hands and feet (grasp)– Less need for claws

Primate Sense Organs

• Highly developed sense of touch• Poorly developed sense of smell• Highly developed sense of sight

– Stereoscopic (3 Dimensional sight)– Caused increased brain size– Color vision

Primate Skeleton

• Cranium (brain case) is high and vaulted• Foramen magnum (connects spine to

brain) is low and centered on skull• Smell decreased – nose/snout smaller• Clavicle and Scapula allow arm strength• Pentadactyl (5 digits) • Sexual dimorphism: different sizes btw

male and female

Primate Reproduction

• Usually few offspring

• Grips to mom as she climbs in trees

• Long period of dependency

• Sexes live together– Unpredictable sex times

What about all

those multiple births?

The Primate Order

L u m u ifo rm es(L em urs , lo rises , in d r is)

S tre ps ih in i

T ars ii P la ty r rh in i(N e w W o r ld M on k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G rea t A p es H om in idae(A frican ap e s, h um an s)

H om ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta r rh in i

H ap lo rh in i

P r im ates

Turned nose

Simple nose

L u m u ifo rm es(L e m u rs , lo rise s , in d ris)

S tre p s ih in i

T a rs i i P la tyrrh in i(N e w W o rld M o n k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G re a t A p es H o m in id ae(A frica n ap e s , h u m a n s)

H o m ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta rrh in i

H a p lo rh in i

P rim a tes

Madagascar only

Tarsiers

• Can move head 180 degrees

• Digits end with adhesive discs

• Nocturnal insect eaters

• Arboreal

L u m u ifo rm es(L e m u rs , lo rise s , in d ris)

S tre p s ih in i

T a rs i i P la tyrrh in i(N e w W o rld M o n k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G re a t A p es H o m in id ae(A frica n ap e s , h u m a n s)

H o m ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta rrh in i

H a p lo rh in i

P rim a tes

New World Monkeys• Live in South and Central America

• Flat nose, wide-flaring nostrils

• Arboreal with prehensile tails

• Walk on all fours with palms down

• Extra set of premolars

L u m u ifo rm es(L e m u rs , lo rise s , in d ris)

S tre p s ih in i

T a rs i i P la tyrrh in i(N e w W o rld M o n k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G re a t A p es H o m in id ae(A frica n ap e s , h u m a n s)

H o m ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta rrh in i

H a p lo rh in i

P rim a tes

L u m u ifo rm es(L e m u rs , lo rise s , in d ris)

S tre p s ih in i

T a rs i i P la tyrrh in i(N e w W o rld M o n k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G re a t A p es H o m in id ae(A frica n ap e s , h u m a n s)

H o m ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta rrh in i

H a p lo rh in i

P rim a tes

•Closely spaced, downward pointing nostrils

•Arboreal or terrestrial

•Two sets of premolars

L u m u ifo rm es(L em urs , lo rises , in d r is)

S tre ps ih in i

T ars ii P la ty r rh in i(N e w W o r ld M on k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G rea t A p es H om in idae(A frican ap e s, h um an s)

H om ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta r rh in i

H ap lo rh in i

P r im ates

L u m u ifo rm es(L em urs , lo rises , in d r is)

S tre ps ih in i

T ars ii P la ty r rh in i(N e w W o r ld M on k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G rea t A p es H om in idae(A frican ap e s, h um an s)

H om ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta r rh in i

H ap lo rh in i

P r im ates

L u m u ifo rm es(L em urs , lo rises , in d r is)

S tre ps ih in i

T ars ii P la ty r rh in i(N e w W o r ld M on k .)

S m a ll A p es A s ian G rea t A p es H om in idae(A frican ap e s, h um an s)

H om ino id ea O ld W o rld M o n k.

C a ta r rh in i

H ap lo rh in i

P r im ates

Similar characteristics of humans

• Lower bones of arms and legs• Opposable thumbs• Fovea Centralis (allows the primate to focus

on a particular object without losing sight of surroundings)

• Similar physical reproduction• Bipedal• Tool making (only chimps in wild)

Social Behaviors of Primates

• Live in group settings Families

• Hierarchy of Power

• Fight for power– Food– Territory – Sex

Social Behaviors of Primates• Group (Social) grooming

Social Behaviors of Primates• Interest surrounding new birth

• Play: somersaults, Tug-Of-War, King of the Mountain, Wrestle

Social Behaviors of Primates• Baboons choose friends as fathers

• Few are monogamous

• Territorial with women

• Promiscuous

Human Differences

• Humans are totally bipedal

• Our brains are three times larger

• Super long dependency of offspring

• Humans have a spoken/symbolic language

• Humans can reason

Human Differences

• Humans have social institutions to pass along culture

• Humans can control environment

• Division of labor

• Humans have different spinal cord, feet, pelvis

• Our legs are longer than our arms