Primate Morphology & Taxonomy Tutorial 2024 PDF

Primate Morphology/Taxonomy  Primate Taxonomy & Linnaean Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Primates Family Hominidae...

Primate Morphology/Taxonomy  Primate Taxonomy & Linnaean Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Primates Family Hominidae Genus Homo Species sapiens “Taxon” (plural “taxa”) can be used to refer to each level of Linnaean hierarchy  Important Terminology (sym)plesiomorphic Primitive traits, ancient characteristics retained from a more distant ancestor (syn)apomorphic Derived traits newly evolved in the last common ancestor of a group What are some primate plesiomorphic traits? 1) Lactation 2) Live births 3) Tapetum lucidum  Primate Synapomorphic Traits 1. Grasping hands & feet with opposable big toe and/or thumb  Primate Synapomorphic Traits 1. Grasping hands & feet with opposable big toe 2. Nails instead of claws  Primate Synapomorphic Traits 1. Grasping hands & feet with opposable big toe 2. Nails instead of claws 3. Postorbital bar  Primate Synapomorphic Traits 1. Grasping hands & feet with opposable big toe 2. Nails instead of claws 3. Postorbital bar 4. Larger proportion of brain devoted to vision Mouse Owl Monkey  Primate Synapomorphic Traits 1. Grasping hands & feet with opposable big toe 2. Nails instead of claws 3. Postorbital bar 4. Larger proportion of brain devoted to vision 5. Forward facing eyes: stereoscopy and wide binocular visual fields Forward-facing eyes with stereoscopic vision Lemur Squirrel  Primate Synapomorphic Traits 1. Grasping hands & feet with opposable big toe 2. Nails instead of claws 3. Postorbital bar 4. Larger proportion of brain devoted to vision 5. Forward facing eyes: stereoscopy and wide binocular visual fields 6. Reduction in number of offspring (usually 1) 7. Increased parental investment 8. Dermatoglyphic ridges Order: Primates Suborder: Strepsirrhini Haplorhini Strepsirrhini Anthropoidea Haplorhini-tarsiers Lemurs, lorises Monkeys, apes, humans Old World (including New World, Old World Madagascar) Ape Distribution  Strepsirrhini Anthropoidea (lemurs, lorises) (monkeys, apes, humans) Unfused mandibular symphysis Fused mandibular symphysis (chin) Unfused frontal bone Fused frontal bone Postorbital plate + postorbital bar No postorbital PLATE =postorbital closure  Strepsirrhini Anthropoidea (lemurs, lorises) (monkeys, apes, humans) Grooming claw on second digit of foot No grooming claws Tooth comb (canine & incisors) No tooth comb P2 Note: tooth comb is composed of 4 incisors and 2 canines (2.1…); P2 often looks like a canine  Strepsirrhini Anthropoidea (lemurs, lorises) (monkeys, apes, humans) Greater reliance on olfaction than Reduced reliance on olfaction, anthropoids increased reliance on vision Rhinarium (wet nose) No rhinarium More nocturnal (night-active) and All diurnal (day-active) except 1 arboreal (tree-dwelling) species species; arboreal and terrestrial than anthropoids (ground-dwelling) Tapetum lucidum No tapetum lucidum > retinal fovea Tapetum lucidum: light gathering layer of the eye to help nocturnal animals see. Avahi laniger (Woolly Lemur)  Summary Order: Primates Strepsirrhini Anthropoidea * Unfused frontal bone * Fused frontal bone * Unfused mandibular symphysis * Fused mandibular symphysis * No postorbital closure (bar only) * Postorbital closure (bar + plate) * rhinarium * NO rhinarium * tapetum lucidum * NO tapetum lucidum and instead has a retinal fovea * Grooming claw (2nd digit) * NO grooming claw (Anthropoids) * Tooth comb * NO tooth comb  What about tarsiers? Strepsirrhine-like Anthropoid-like small fused frontal bone nocturnal partial postorbital closure primarily insectivorous No rhinarium Unfused mandible No tapetum lucidum Grooming claw (2nd & No tooth comb 3rd digit)** Other soft tissue similarities (e.g., shape of uterus) **may be independently derived in tarsiers and strepsirrhines  Phenetic classification  Primates Haplorhini Strepsirrhini Anthropoidea Lemuriformes Lorisiformes Tarsiiformes Platyrrhini Catarrhini lemurs, lorises, indris, galagos, tarsiers aye-ayes pottos  Lemuriformes Confined to Madagascar High species diversity Blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur macaco flavifrons) Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) Mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)  Lemuriformes aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascarensis) Dental Formula: 1.0.1.3/1.0.0.3  Lorisiformes Africa and Asia Lorises Asian species Galagos Slender loris African species Loris tardigradus Lesser bushbaby Slow loris Galago Nycticebus coucang senegalensis Greater bushbaby Otolemur crassicaudatus Tarsiiformes Restricted to Asia Phillipine Tarsier Tarsius syrichta Western Tarsier Tarsius bancanus Head can turn 180° Hindlimbs twice as long as body Immobile eyes, larger than brain  Primates Strepsirrhini Haplorhini Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea Anthropoidea Platyrrhini Catarrhini New World Monkeys Old World Monkeys, Apes, Humans Dental formula 2.1.3.3 Nostrils face out No bony ear tube Minimal sexual dimorphism all arboreal (tree-living) some have prehensile tails  Primates Strepsirrhini Haplorhini Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea Platyrrhini Catarrhini Platyrrhini Family Callitrichidae Cebidae Marmosets & Tamarins Rest of the NW monkeys  Callitrichidae very small body size dental formula: 2.1.3.2 or 2.1.3.3 claw-like nails no prehensile tail polyandrous males care for offspring twins are common arboreal  Capuchin Cebus Cebidae larger body size Owl monkey dental formula: 2.1.3.3 Aotus Uakari some have prehensile tails diverse social structures small  large groups diurnal except for Aotus Diurnal titi monkey Callicebus Spider monkey Ateles  Primates Strepsirrhini Haplorhini Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea Platyrrhini Catarrhini Anthropoidea Platyrrhini Catarrhini New World Monkeys Old World Monkeys, Apes, Humans Dental formula 2.1.3.3 Nostrils face out Dental formula 2.1.2.3 No bony ear tube Bony ear tube Minimal sexual dimorphism Downward facing nostrils all arboreal (tree-living) Highly sexually dimorphic some have prehensile tails Arboreal and terrestrial Tails are never prehensile  Primates Strepsirrhini Haplorhini Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea Platyrrhini Catarrhini Catarrhini Superfamily Cercopithecoidea Hominoidea Old World Monkeys Apes and Humans  Important Distinguishing Features Cercopithecoidea (OWM) Hominoidea (apes, humans) Narrow nose Broad nose Long, narrow trunk Short, wide trunk Tails No tails Bilophodont teeth Y-5 molar pattern Buccal Buccal  Primates Strepsirrhini Haplorhini Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea Platyrrhini Catarrhini Cercopithecoidea Hominoidea Superfamily Cercopithecoidea Subfamily Cercopithecinae Colobinae baboons, macaques, guenons colobine monkeys, langurs  Cercopithecinae primarily frugivorous (fruit-eating) simple stomach cheek pouches low rounded cusps large range of body size terrestrial and arboreal arms/legs the same length  Colobinae primarily folivorous (leaf-eating) specialized gut morphology sacculated stomach sharp cusps NO cheek pouches legs longer than arms Sacculated stomach – chambered stomach which helps to break down vegetables  Primates Primates Strepsirrhini Haplorhini Haplorhini Strepsirrhini Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea Platyrrhini Catarrhini Platyrrhini Catarrhini Infraorder Cercopithecoidea Hominoidea Hominoidea Family Hylobatidae Hominidae Gibbons and siamangs Orangutans, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, i.e. “lesser apes” Humans i.e. “great apes” Hylobatidae Pair-bonding Brachiation Long arms  Hominidae Sexual dimorphism Solitary or group-living Culture