Flashcards in Primate evolution Deck (58)
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1
What is binomial nomenclature?
Uses generic (genus) and specific (species) names for the scientific name of a species
2
Categories list:
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
3
How are living organisms classified?
According to their structural features
4
Homosapiens
genus = homo
species = sapien
5
Organisms that produce fertile offspring
Must be from the same species
6
What does being in the same species presume?
That you are in the same genus
7
Sub-groups in the classification system
- Kingdom
- Phylum
o Sub-phylum
- Class
- Order
o Sub-order
o Infra-order
o Parv-order
o Super-family
- Family
o Sub-family
o Tribe
- Genus
- Species
o Sub-species
8
Types of primates
- Humans
- Apes
- Monkeys
- Tarsiers
- Lorises
- Lemurs
- Have some physical characteristics and DNA nucleotide sequences in common
9
What happens as you move down the hierarchy?
- Organisms in each group have more and more characteristics in common
- Start to have very similar DNA sequences
10
Classification of humans
- Classified into the family: hominidae
- Share this family with the great apes (e.g. Gorillas, Chimps and Orang-utans)
- Sub-family: homininae and share this subfamily with Chimpanzees and extinct humans
- Tribe: Hominini and share this tribe with the extinct humans
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Binomial name for Orang-utans
Ponginae
12
Binomial name for Gorillas
Gorillini
13
Binomial name for Chimpanzee
Panini
14
Examples of lower primates
Non-tarsiers - Leumurs
Prosimians
15
Primate groups
Lower primates
Tarsiers
Higher primates
16
Examples of higher primates
New worldmonkeys - spider monkeys
Old world monkeys - baboons
Lesser apes - gibbons
Great apes - orang-utans, gorillas and chimpanzees
Humans - modern and extinct humans
17
Classification of primates
Kingdom = animal
Phylum = chlordate
Subphylum = vertebrate
Class = mammal
Order = primate
18
Characteristics of primates (15)
1. Unspecialised body
2. Unspecialised limbs
3. Pentadactyl (5 limbs)
4. Nails instead of claws
5. Grasping digits with friction ridges
6. Opposable first digit
7. Forward facing eyes (stereoscopic vision)
8. Colour vision
9. Reduced sense of smell
10. 4 incisors in top and bottom jaws
11. Relatively large and complex brain
12. Larger cerebrum in more complex primates
13. Can reproduce throughout the year
14. Rhythmical sexual cycle
15. Usually one offspring at a time
16. Long period of parental care
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Strepsirrhini
Lemurs and Lorises
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Tarsiformes
Tarsiers
21
Platyrrhini
New world monkeys
22
Cercopithecoidea
Old world monkeys
23
Hylobatidae
Simangs and gibbons
24
Pongids
Orang-utans
25
Panini
Chimpanzees
26
Hominini
Humans
27
Types of evolutionary trends
1. Digits
2. Dentition
3. Relative size of the cerebral cortex
4. Gestation (duration of pregnancy) and parental care
5. Vision
28
Evolution of digits
- Primates are pentadactyl (5 digits on each limb)
- Digits are highly mobile due to arboreal ancestry
- Digits are prehensile = grasping
- The evolutionary trend is toward increasing the ability to move digits
29
The thumb
- Most highly evolved digit
- Independent and opposable
- The degree of opposability varies
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