Primates

Question 1

Evolutionary Trends

Answer 1

1. Brain
2. Senses
3. Limbs and locomotion
4. Hands
5. Dentition
6. Reproductive patterns
7. Social behaviour

Question 2

Brain

Answer 2

Expansion and increased complexity of the brain.
Large brain relative to the size of the body. A larger brain means a larger skull.

Question 3

Senses

Answer 3

Decreases reliance on smell/olfactory –> reduced. Reduction in size of snout.

Question 4

Sight - eyes

Answer 4

Eyes move towards front of face - better 3D (stereoscopic) vision. Depth perception - due to forward facing eyes.

Question 5

What do sight changes permit:

Answer 5

• More accurate sensory perception, especially visual and tactile. Better coordination between sensory stimuli and muscular responses. Greater variety of behavioural responses.

Question 6

Limbs hand locomotion

Answer 6

• Tendency toward erect posture.
• Flexible generalised limb structure. The limbs tend to be unspecialised and are pentadactyl.
• Mobile arms: Posture frees arms and hands for grasping.
• Partially opposable

Question 7

Hands

Answer 7

Retention of 5 digits on hands and feel - pentadactyl
- opposable thumb

Question 8

Dentition

Answer 8

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