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Primate Evolution and Traits
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Primate Evolution and Traits
Primate Evolution and Traits
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1
Question
What is the defining trait of primates unique to primates?
Answer
Defining trait: Unique internal ear structure (auditory bulla from petrosal bone).
2
Question
What are the 4 hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of primate traits? Who proposed them?
Answer
1. Arboreal Niche Theory (Jones, Smith, and LeGros Clark) 2. Angiosperm Terminal Branch Hypothesis (Sussman) 3. Visual Predation Hypothesis (Cartmill) 4. Visual Predation Terminal Branch Hypothesis (Rasmussen)
3
Question
What traits separate strepsirrhines from haplorhines?
Answer
Strepsirrhines: Primitive snout (wet nose), twisted nostrils, bony ring around eye, unfused frontal bone and mandible. Haplorhines: Reduced snout (dry nose), simple nostrils, bony socket around eye, fused frontal bone and mandible.
4
Question
What traits do tarsiers share with strepsirrhines? What about Haplorhines?
Answer
Strepsirrhine Traits (Tarsiers Share): Grooming claw, unfused mandible, nocturnal. Haplorhine Traits (Tarsiers Share): No tapetum, no rhinarium, partial postorbital closure, partially fused frontal bone, lacrimal intermediate.
5
Question
What is a grade vs clade?
Answer
Grade: Taxon united by a level of morphological/physiological complexity; doesn't necessarily reflect ancestry. Clade: Strictly phylogenetic unit; ancestor and all its descendants.
6
Question
Summarize the categories size, activity diet and social organization for Cheirogaleidae and Lepilemuridae
Answer
Cheirogaleidae: Small (1 kg), Nocturnal/Seasonal Torpor, Frugivores/Insectivores, Solitary (e.g., Mouse Lemurs). Lepilemuridae: Medium (1-2 kg), Nocturnal, Folivores, Solitary/Territorial (e.g., Sportive Lemurs).
7
Question
What are the infraorders within the suborder Haplorhini?
Answer
Platyrrhini and Catarrhini
8
Question
What are the superfamilies within the infraorder Platyrrhini?
Answer
Ceboidea
9
Question
What are the superfamilies within the infraorder Catarrhini?
Answer
Cercopithecoidea and Hominoidea
10
Question
Provide taxonomic examples for the family Galagidae.
Answer
Bushbabies, Galagos
11
Question
Provide taxonomic examples for the family Lorisidae.
Answer
Lorises
12
Question
Provide taxonomic examples for the family Tarsiiformes.
Answer
Tarsier
13
Question
Provide taxonomic examples for the family Cebidae.
Answer
Saguinus, Leontopithecus, Callithrix, Calibella, Mico, Cebuella, Callimico, Cebus, Saimiri, Aotus
14
Question
Provide taxonomic examples for the family Atelidae.
Answer
Atelus, Brachyteles, Lagothrix, Alouatta
15
Question
Provide taxonomic examples for the family Pitheciidae.
Answer
Callicebus, Cacajao, Chiropotes, Pithecia
16
Question
What are the morphological differences between Platyrrhine and Catarrhine primates?
Answer
Platyrrhini have round, wide, sideways-facing nostrils, 3 molars, and zygomatic-parietal skull contact. Catarrhini have narrow, downward-facing nostrils, 2 molars, and frontal-sphenoid skull contact.
17
Question
Describe Eulemur sexual dichromatism as a special adaptation.
Answer
Eulemur species exhibit differences in coloration between males and females, a visual cue related to mating and species recognition.
18
Question
Explain Propithecus ring-species as a special adaptation.
Answer
Propithecus species show a ring-like distribution around Madagascar, with interbreeding occurring between adjacent populations but not at the extremes, highlighting evolutionary divergence.
19
Question
Describe some defining traits of the Cebidae family.
Answer
Highly diverse, vary in size and diet, some have prehensile tails
20
Question
What are the defining traits of Callitrichinae?
Answer
Small size, diurnal activity, diet of frugivores and gummivores, social organization of small or polyandrous groups, cooperative breeders. Examples: Marmosets and Tamarins.
21
Question
What are the defining traits of Cebinae?
Answer
Medium size (3-6 kg), diurnal activity, omnivorous or frugivorous diet, multi-male multi-female groups. Examples: Capuchins, Squirrel Monkeys.
22
Question
What are the defining traits of Aotinae?
Answer
Medium size (3-6 kg), nocturnal activity (no tapetum), frugivorous diet, pair bonding, paternal care. Example: Owl/Night Monkeys.
23
Question
What are the defining traits of Atelinae?
Answer
Medium size, diurnal activity, frugivorous diet, large multi-male multi-female groups, fission-fusion social organization. Examples: Spider Monkeys, Woolly Monkeys, Muriquis.
24
Question
What are the defining traits of Alouattinae?
Answer
Medium size, diurnal activity, folivorous diet (enlarged large intestine), social organization of one-male multi-female or multi-male multi-female groups, loud territorial calls (enlarged hyoid). Example: Howler Monkeys.
25
Question
What are the defining traits of Callicebinae?
Answer
Small size, diurnal activity, frugivorous diet, pair bonding, paternal care. Example: Titi Monkeys.
26
Question
What are the defining traits of Pitheciinae (Sakis and Uakaris)?
Answer
Medium size, diurnal activity, frugivorous diet, seed predators, large multi-male multi-female groups, fission-fusion. Examples: Sakis, Uakaris.
27
Question
What are the defining traits of Circopithecinae Guenons?
Answer
Medium size, diurnal activity, frugivorous diet, one-male multi-female or multi-male multi-female social groups. Examples: Patas Monkeys, Diana Monkeys.
28
Question
What are the defining traits of Circopithecinae Baboons?
Answer
Medium to large size, diurnal activity, omnivorous diet (hunt small antelope), one-male multi-female or multi-male multi-female groups, sometimes supertroops of more than 1,000 individuals. Example: Baboons.
29
Question
What are the defining traits of Circopithecinae Mangabeys?
Answer
Medium size, diurnal activity, frugivorous diet, seed predators, multi-male multi-female social groups. Example: Sanjey Mangabey.
30
Question
What are the defining traits of Circopithecinae Mandrills and Drills?
Answer
Medium size, diurnal activity, frugivorous diet, one-male multi-female or multi-male multi-female social groups, sometimes over 3,000 individuals, striking sexual dimorphism, colorful faces denote social rank. Examples: Mandrills and Drills.