Bio 1004s - Primate diversity notes

Primate diversity & evolution
Evolution = change through time (mutation, selection, gene flow, genetic
drift)

- Evolution acts to create diversity

Primate evolution ~ 60 000 000 years

Human evolution ~ 6 000 000 years

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Primates

- One of the more diverse groups of mammals (lots of variation)
- 600+ extant species (similar amount extinct)

Primate habitats:

- The tropics
- Some in grassland, wooded & savannah areas

, - Make use of emergent trees, the
main canopy and understory (3-
dimensional space)
- Very agile

Primate morphology

Ancestral mammalian traits:

- Generalized mammalian body plan
- Retention of clavicle
- Relatively flexible joints in
forelimbs
- Pentadactyly (five fingers)
- Generalized heterodont dentition
(no highly specialized teeth –
widely varied diet)

Derived primate traits:

1. Grasping hands and feet with protective nails – (sensitive pads,
opposable thumb)
2. Stereoscopic binocular (color) vision and a decreasing reliance on
smell
3. Superior dexterity and muscle coordination – (bony ear NB for
balance, retention of clavicle)
4. Relatively large brain & complex social structure

Diets

 Frugivory – fruit*
 Folivery – leaves & vegetables*
 Grammivory – gums
 Gramnivory – seeds & nuts
 Insectivory/faunivory – insects

* bulk of the diet

Locomotion

- Bipedalism
- Arboreal quadrupedalism
- Leaping
- Terrestrial quadrupedalism
- Suspension

Behaviour & life history

, - Emphasis on learning
- Group living
- Intelligence is NB
- Long life history stages
- Strong mother-offspring bonds
- Single births (or twins)
- Kinship NB

Social organization reflected in sexually dimorphic traits

 Large body size
 Large canines
 Facial coloring
 Manes
 Cheek pads

Monogamous – little sexual dimorphism, bond for life

Suborder Strepsirrhines (lemurs, lorises, pottos, bush babies, ayes-ayes)

- Rhinarium – moist noses (enhances scent)
- Split upper lip
- Tapetum lucidum – feature in eye allowing night vision
- Post-orbital bar
- Tooth combs

Infraorder Lorisiformes

(lorises, pottos, angwantibos,
galagos)

 SE Asia & Africa
 Small (< 2kg)
 Solitary
 Nocturnal
 Largely arboreal

Infraorder Lemuriformes

 Madagascar & nearby islands
 Adaptive radiation
 Variable in size & behavior
 Variable dental formulae
 1/3 of all lemurs extinct in last 1500
years (reduction of habitats & killed)

Infraorder Chiromyiformes (aye-aye)