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Mammalian Diversity > Primates > Flashcards

Primates Flashcards

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1
Q

How many species are found within this order ?

A

424 species

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2
Q

Describe the adaptions of the early primates.

A

Arboreal, Flexible limbs, Prehensile hands and feet, Claws, tails

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3
Q

As the primates developed what happened to their claws ?

A

They developed into nails.

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4
Q

What toe adaption do all primates have, barring humans ?

A

A big toe that is separated from the other toes,

Enables grip on branches

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5
Q

Which species have an opposable thumb and what is it ?

A

Monkeys and apes

Where the ventral surface of the thumb can touch the ventral surface of each of the fingers on the same hand.

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6
Q

Early primates were insectivorous.

What dental adaptions did they have ?

A

Primitive triangular shaped molars.

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7
Q

Describe the dental evolution of primates as they became omnivores.

A

Molars became square
Bunodont (4 cusps)
To facilitate crushing of food.

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8
Q

What happened to the optic adaptions of primates over evolution ?

A

Eyes face forwards, To enable judgement of distances,

Have stereoscopic vision (3D)

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9
Q

What happened to the primates cerebellum (back brain) over evolution ?

A

Cerebellum became enlarged

More precise muscular movements

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10
Q

What happened to the cerebrum (anterior brain) over evolutions

A

Cerebrum became enlarged

Greater mental powers, basis of social grouping.

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11
Q

What is the maximum likelihood phylogeny ?

A

A phylogeny based on 35 thousand base pairs,

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12
Q

What 2 suborders are the primates split into ?

A

Strepsirrhini and the Haplorrhini

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13
Q

What does RRHINI mean ?

A

Muzzle

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14
Q

What did the maximum likelihood phylogeny reveal ?

A

Other groupings between sub order and family

Such as infraorder and parvorder

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15
Q

Which is the more primitive suborder of primates ?

A

The Strepsirrhini

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16
Q

Describe the features of the Strepsirrhini,

A

Longer snouts (stretch-muzzle)
Better smell
Smaller brains

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17
Q

Give the species contained within the Strepsirrhini.

A

Lorises, bush babies and pottos, aye aye and lemurs.

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18
Q

How many families of lemur exist ?

A

4

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19
Q

Why did the lemurs undergo such major adaptive radiation ?

A

Isolated from the African mainland on the island of Madagascar 80 million years ago.

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20
Q

Describe an extinct species of lemur

A

Giant sloth lemur

Bigger than a sliver back gorilla

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21
Q

What is the main threat to the extant species of lemur ?

A

Deforestation

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22
Q

Describe the mating habits of lemurs

A

Monogamous

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23
Q

How do we know that lemurs are a primitive species ?

A 
Some claws remain, mainly nails 
Molars are triangular, with hints of bunodont
Mainly arboreal (except ring tailed lemur)
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24
Q

Describe the vision of lemurs.

A

Binocular field of vision

1140 130 degrees in comp. to most monkeys 140-169.

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25
Describe the main dental features of the Aye Aye
Continually growing incisors for chiselling bark (rodent like)
26
How does the Aye Aye feed ?
By drumming on tree bark to locate insect larvae Chiselling bark using incisors Using slender middle finger to consume insect and fruit larvae.
27
Which digits do Aye ayes have claws on ?
All digits, expect big toes which have nails.
28
List the 'other groupings' found within the Suborder Haplorrhini
Infraorder Tarsiiformes Infraorder Simiiformes Parvorder Platyrrhini Parvoder Catarrhini
29
Where are Tarsiiformes found ?
Found in south east Asia
30
Which infraorder are the Tarsiiformes more closely related to ?
Simiiformes (monkeys, apes, humans)
31
Describe the advanced communication of the Tarsiiformes
Communicate via ultrasonic calls (70 kilohertz) | Hearing is up to 91 kilohertz
32
What is the diet of the Tarsiiformes ?
Entirely carnivorous.
33
What Parvorders are found within the Simiiformes ?
2 Platyrrhini Catarrhini
34
Describe the key features of the Simiiformes.
Sit on haunches Large brains Diurnal (active in day) Flat faces devoid of fur
35
What is found within the Parvorder Platyrrhini ?
New world monkeys | marmosets and tamarins
36
Give the identifying features of the Parvorder Platyrrhini.
Widespread nostrils Flat nose 3 premolar teeth on each side of jaw
37
Platyrrhini are mainly terrestrial- True or False ?
``` False, Arboreal Use prehensile (grasping) tail as 5th limb ```
38
What is found within the Parvorder Catarrhini ?
Old world monkeys (Cercopithecidae) Gibbons (Hylobatidae) Apes and humans (Hominidae)
39
What is the distinguishing feature of the Catarrhini ?
Narrow spaced nostrils (Downward pointing) Narrow nose 2 pre molars on each jaw.
40
In what family are the old world monkeys found ?
The Cercopithecidae
41
How many species are found within the Family Cercopithecidae ?
80 species | guenons, Macaques, baboons
42
Describe the colouration of baboons.
Red coloration around mouth hormonal, becomes more vivid at mating Blue faces Blue scrotal skin linked to testosterone in males, brightest colouration gives highest social status.
43
The blue colouration of baboons is structural colour, what does this mean ?
Light hits the cells and reflects back as blue. | Differs from pigmented colouration.
44
In what family are the gibbons found ?
Family Hylobatidae
45
Where are gibbons found ?
South east Asia
46
Describe living habits of the Family Hylobatidea.
Arboreal, mainly within trees
47
What is brachiaion ?
Arboreal locomotion, | Arm swinging from tree to tree in gibbons
48
How do gibbons maintain monogamy ?
Through a complex vocal system | Maintain pair bond through duets and calls.
49
Why do some gibbons have a more developed Laryngeal sac ?
To enlarge the carrying capacity of their call.
50
What are the derived features of the family Hominidae ?
Large Lack tails Tendency towards upright posture.
51
What species are found within the Hominidae ?
Apes and humans
52
Describe the difference in DNA sequences between apes and humans ?
1.2% difference in DNA sequences.
53
What is the differing feature of humans to other apes ?
Language
54
When did humans split from chimps on the evolutionary timeline ?
4 to 6 million years ago.
55
What is special about the alarm calls of the velvet monkeys ?
Different alarm calls which elicit a different response. Leopard- (run to tree) Snake- (Look downwards) Eagle- (look Upwards
56
How many different alarm calls does the Campbell monkey make ?
5 different types
57
What is special about the vocalisation of the Campbell's monkey ?
They modify existing calls (prefixes, suffixes) | Can use calls in a chain to give a different meaning
58
What are the limitations of the vocalisations of Campbell's monkey ?
No symbolic language, can only react to things | No flexibility of language (inversion)
59
In the Campbell monkey groups, which member gives the vocalization's ?
The alpha male gives the alarm calls
60
What is the law of brevity ?
Inverse relationship between word length and frequency of use (longer words used less)
61
What was the law of brevity originally thought o apply to ?
Human language and vocal signalling in non human primates
62
Why does the law of brevity not stand true for vocal signalling in non human primates ?
Research found that they do not use the shortest calls most frequently. Shortest calls are selected against as are too ambiguous and hard to locate.
63
Describe the overall social structure of primates ?
Stay together throughout their lifetimes | Complex structural organisation
64
What are the pros and cons of group living
Requires more food Outweighed by protection and alarm system provided.
65
Describe the social organisation of Gibbons.
``` Monogamous pairs (males and female) 4 children living with them Separate territories which they defend together ```
66
Describe the social organisations of Bush babies
Female live with single offspring in own territory These overlap with other closely related females and are found in a larger male territories Male territories can also overlap
67
Describe the social organisations of Gorillas
Single breeding male Harem of females and young in large territory Wide gaps between harems
68
Describe the social organisation of chimpanzees
Groups of unrelated females have own home ranges, Some overlap Groups of females are monopolised by groups of related breeding males.
69
What happens if a group of chimpanzee males come into contact with another group ?
Will be huge fight.
70
Describe the social organisations of Gelada baboons.
Very stable, 600 individuals in some cases Larger groups with single male and harem of females Exclude weak males who are unable to hold harem, will usually form associations on outskirts
71
Describe the social organisations of Yellow Baboons.
Multi-male troops with several breeding males and many breeding females Strong dominant hierarchies among males
72
What is social organisation in primates dependant on ?
The distribution of food.
73
How does monogamy occur in primates ?
If food is concentrated in areas that are small enough to be defended
74
Why will females form a group?
To assist in finding food if it cannot be defended.
75
When will large numbers of males join a group of females ?
If there are too many females to be defended by one male. Yellow baboons.
76
When will a single male join a group of females ?
When food is even more wide spread, but a single male can still defend the females from other males.

Mammalian Diversity (19 decks)

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