Order Primates
Tremendous amount of work has been done on
primate evolution, anatomy and physiology due to relation to humans. Similarity
makes them good lab subjects for medical studies. Primatology
as a field is very competitive, evolutionary theories often based on tenuous
evidence. Anthropology an aspect of primatology that deals with humans.
Evolutionary trends in primates-
1. digital dexterity, nails, pads, thumb opposable
2. relatively large cerebral cortex, exchange of optical
for olfactory centers
3. shortened muzzle, eyes forward for stereo vision
4. slow reproductive rate, long life span
5. omnivory/herbivory
6. complex mating and social systems
7. other more complex behaviors such as tool use,
learning
One of the earliest of the
modern orders to appear.
Cretaceous origins, probably developed from
the insectivores
Known from all continents except
Antarctica/Australia--this helps us date origins.
Two suborders are currently in existence--
Strepsirhini--All families old world, primarily
Haplorhini--Asian, African, American--now worldwide
Once upon a time, two different suborders
were used (1940s) These were Prosimii
and the Anthropoidea. Prosimians
included the less monkey-like groups as well as what we now call the Scandentia. The term prosimian is
still often used.
major differences between strepsirhines
and haplorhines:
|
Strepsirhini |
Haplorhini |
|
rhinarium with medial cleft |
none |
|
bicornate uterus |
simplex uterus |
|
relatively noninvasive placenta |
relatively invasive placenta |
|
postorbital plate |
|
|
spatulate incisors |
|
|
crescentic nostrils |
oval nostrils |
The Strepsirhini
Families:
Daubentoniidae
One currently recognized species, a handful
of subspecies. Also known as aye-ayes.
Most unlike any other
primate. Restricted
to
This, together with habitat destruction,
makes it is very much endangered.
Lorises and pottos
sub-Saharan African and Asian
nocturnal, arboreal. Second digit of feet and hands shortened,
in pottos has a claw.
All are African. Arboreal,
primarily nocturnal. Also known as bushbabies
or galagos.
Like many strepsirhines,
have specialized grooming tools.
Lemuridae--lemurs
Only on
Very colorful, often with
striking patterns. Well-developed tails for balance, more social, more communicative
than other strepsherines.
Megaladapidae--sporting lemurs--recently split out of Lemuridae
Cheirogaleidae--dwarf lemurs. Also all from
Indridae--indris, woolly lemurs, sifakas.
often run/hop, though primarily arboreal.
Haplorhini
Platyrrhini (new world) and the Catarrhini
(old world)
Widely distributed. Six families.
Tarsiidae--tarsiers
Asian islands in Phillipine
archipelago,
Central and S. American. 58 species, including many commonly
seen in zoos.
Most are generalist herbivores. Some have
prehensile tails and are semibrachiators, others more
saltatorial. Both polygamous and
monogamous mating systems in this family.
Central and S. American. 26 species. Marmosets and tamarins.
Omnivorous/insectivorous. Among smallest primates.
Claws rather than nails.
Old world monkeys
81 species--
Wide range of habitats,
behaviors. include
the Macaques, mandrills, colobines. Often used in research.
Hylobatidae--11
species. Gibbons and siamangs.
Hominidae--5
species.
Genera:
Gorilla, Pan (2 species-Bonobo (P. paniscus)
and chimpanzee
(P. troglodytes), Pongo
pygmaeus, Homo sapiens, Homo
floresiensis, Homo ??.
Distribution is Asian and African, worldwide
since Pleistocene.