THE PRIMATES 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS Origins tree

THE PRIMATES © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Origins – tree shrews ¡ ¡ ¡ Not Primates but closely related Similar to the common ancestor of all placental mammals Small, insectivorous, arboreal mammals © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS Tree shrew (Lyonogale tana)

Primate characteristics ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Arborial Grasping hands Finger nails & finger pads with ridges Binocular vision Diurnal Colour vision Large brain High degree of parental care Long childhood © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Prosimians Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

The Prosimians Muzzel ¡ Immobile upper lip ¡ Developed sense of smell ¡ Ears can orientate ¡ Evolved from about 63 Ma ¡ © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Old World Monkeys Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

The Old World Monkeys Narrow nose ¡ Tail (when present) never prehensile ¡ Mostly diurnal ¡ © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The New World Monkeys Howler monkey (Alouatta sp. )

The New World Monkeys Split from the old world monkeys about 40 Ma ¡ Flat-nosed ¡ More premolars ¡ Long tails, some prehensile ¡ © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Gorilla gorilla The Apes Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) Gibbon (Hylobates lar) Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) © JGI

The Gibbons From SE Asia ¡ Small 5– 7 kg ¡ Brachiators ¡ No tail ¡ Longevity: 25 -30 years ¡ © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Apes - Orangutans From SE Asia ¡ Large ape females 40 -50 kg males 60 -90 kg ¡ Very flexible in their locomotion ¡ No tail ¡ Longevity: up to 35 years ¡ © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Apes – Gorillas and Chimpanzees Large Chimps 30 -40 kg Gorilla female 90 kg male 160 kg ¡ Knuckle walk and climb ¡ No tail ¡ Chimps use simple tools ¡ Longevity 40 years ¡ Gorilla herbivore ¡ Chimp Omnivore ¡ © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS