ANT102 Fall 2019
2.2. Characteristics of Living Primates
Introduction to Non-Human Primates
Why do we study primates?
• We share many aspects of our morphology, physiology and development with other primates
Homology: Traits similar because of common ancestry
• Wild chimpanzees
o make tools
o hunt animals
o live in male-bonded groups
o Captive chimpanzees can acquire basic human language skills
Analogy: Similar traits through convergent evolution
• Baboons live in similar environments to early hominins
-Food sources
-Selective pressures acting on primates living in African woodlands and grasslands
Primate Characteristics
• Grasping hands and feet
o thumb, big toe opposable
• Fingers, toes with nails, not claws
• Sense of smell reduced
• Visual sense well-developed
• Small litters, gestation & juvenile periods long
• Unspecialized molars
• Large brains
Primate Adult Dentition
• Incisors--flat--used for nipping
• Canines--slashing, shearing (in humans similar to incisors)
• Premolars--puncturing, some grinding
• Molars—Grinding
• Humans have same dental formula as OW monkeys, apes
Tropical Distribution of Primates
In the past there were nonhuman primates in North America and Europe, conditions were tropical in these
regions
Today primates are found in Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Madagascar
Old vs New Classification
- OLD:
• Prosimians
o Lemurs
o Lorises
o Galagos
o Tarsiers
• Anthropoids
o New World Monkeys (Platyrrhines)
o Old World Monkeys (Catarrhines)
o Apes
o Humans
- NEW
• Strepshirines
o Lemurs
2.2. Characteristics of Living Primates
Introduction to Non-Human Primates
Why do we study primates?
• We share many aspects of our morphology, physiology and development with other primates
Homology: Traits similar because of common ancestry
• Wild chimpanzees
o make tools
o hunt animals
o live in male-bonded groups
o Captive chimpanzees can acquire basic human language skills
Analogy: Similar traits through convergent evolution
• Baboons live in similar environments to early hominins
-Food sources
-Selective pressures acting on primates living in African woodlands and grasslands
Primate Characteristics
• Grasping hands and feet
o thumb, big toe opposable
• Fingers, toes with nails, not claws
• Sense of smell reduced
• Visual sense well-developed
• Small litters, gestation & juvenile periods long
• Unspecialized molars
• Large brains
Primate Adult Dentition
• Incisors--flat--used for nipping
• Canines--slashing, shearing (in humans similar to incisors)
• Premolars--puncturing, some grinding
• Molars—Grinding
• Humans have same dental formula as OW monkeys, apes
Tropical Distribution of Primates
In the past there were nonhuman primates in North America and Europe, conditions were tropical in these
regions
Today primates are found in Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Madagascar
Old vs New Classification
- OLD:
• Prosimians
o Lemurs
o Lorises
o Galagos
o Tarsiers
• Anthropoids
o New World Monkeys (Platyrrhines)
o Old World Monkeys (Catarrhines)
o Apes
o Humans
- NEW
• Strepshirines
o Lemurs
