INTRODUCTION TO PRIMATES AND PRIMATE TAXONOMY Taxonomy Each

INTRODUCTION TO PRIMATES AND PRIMATE TAXONOMY

Taxonomy • Each taxon tells us more about that group’s adaptations • Makes important biological statements about genetic & evolutionary relationships

Adaptive Radiation • The evolution & spreading out of related species into new environmental niches Juramaia sinensis

The Primate Order • Diverse and varied order

I. Characteristics of the Order Primates • • Features that define a distinct “primate way of life” Arboreal adaptations

A. Vision is predominant sense 1. Binocular vision a. Forward facing eyes Overlapping field of vision • b. Stereoscopic (3 -D) vision • • Depth perception Essential for agility in trees c. Increased protection of the eyes 2. 3. Color vision a. b. Locating ripe fruit Spotting different individuals/predators Reliance on visual communication a. facial expressions/gestures

B. Reduced sense of smell 1. Reflected by flat faces • Progressive shortening of snout

C. Locomotion/Movement 1. Upright posture 2. Flexible limbs 3. Prehensile (grasping) hands AND feet • • • Five digits on hands and feet Opposable thumb Divergent & partially opposable big toe Enhanced sense of touch from tactile pads with sensitive nerve fibers Nails instead of claws

C. Locomotion, cont. Variety of loctomotive patterns • Terrestrial & arboreal quadrupedalism – walking on all fours (primary mode)

C. Locomotion, continued a. b. Vertical leaping Jumping Sifaka locomotion

Locomotive Patterns, cont. c. Brachiating – arm over arm swinging from beneath branches

Locomotive patterns, cont. • • Knuckle-walking Occasional bipedalism

D. Diet & Teeth 1. Generalized dentition – variety of nonspecialized teeth 2. Lack of dietary specialization a. Mostly omnivorous – variety of food (mostly plants/fruit) b. Dietary preferences, tooth structure varies by species

E. Reproduction 1. Only occurs while female is in estrus = period of sexual receptivity 2. Long gestational period a. Usually single infant births 3. Distinct life stages a. Prolonged infant dependency 4. Delayed sexual maturation

F. Behavior & Organization 1. Highly social & intelligent 2. Tendency to live in social groups • Mother-infant unit is foundation 3. Greater dependence on learned behavior

G. Communication 1. Use of vocalizations/call systems • • Alert to danger/threat Location of food source 2. Can USE but not SPEAK language • • Lack the vocal apparatus necessary to form words Specific genes (Foxp 2) involved in spoken language

H. Habitat 1. Primarily arboreal (tree-dwelling) a. Tropical forests and woodlands b. Occupy different layers/levels of forest 2. Some terrestrial species (baboons, gorillas)

Forest Layers/Levels

I. Threats to Primates 1. Loss of habitat due to deforestation 2. Hunting (for meat) 3. Poaching a. Captured for sale b. Killed for body parts

Why study non-human primates? 1. To decipher evolutionary trends • • Transition from quadrupedalism to bipedalism Transition from arboreal to terrestrial way of life 2. To use as a basis of comparison • • Biological development (comparative anatomy) Social development (how our ancestors may have lived) Life in the Trees