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Why Study Primates? Why Study Primates?

Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

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Page 1: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Why Study Primates?Why Study Primates?

Page 2: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Light shall be thrown on Light shall be thrown on humanity’s historyhumanity’s history

The human family

is but one branch on the tree of

life.

Page 3: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

We’re essentially studying We’re essentially studying ourselvesourselves

Demonstrate our biological heritage as Demonstrate our biological heritage as primates.primates.

Cast light on basic human behaviors and their Cast light on basic human behaviors and their ancestry.ancestry.

Window into the evolution of intelligence.Window into the evolution of intelligence. Understand the evolution of language.Understand the evolution of language. Understand the origins of culture.Understand the origins of culture.

Page 4: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Behavior Doesn’t FossilizeBehavior Doesn’t Fossilize

Understanding of chimp behavior today helps us to understand the Understanding of chimp behavior today helps us to understand the ways in which our early ancestors may have behaved because any ways in which our early ancestors may have behaved because any behaviors shared by the modern chimps and modern humans was behaviors shared by the modern chimps and modern humans was probably in the common ancestor of humans and chimps and if it was probably in the common ancestor of humans and chimps and if it was present in the common ancestor, therefore it was present in the early present in the common ancestor, therefore it was present in the early humans.humans.

Page 5: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

What Makes A Primate A Primate?What Makes A Primate A Primate?

Page 6: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

What, Exactly, Is A Primate?What, Exactly, Is A Primate?Here are some hintsHere are some hints

Limbs and locomotionLimbs and locomotion Senses & the brain

Diet and teeth

Page 7: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Trunk VerticalityTrunk Verticality

Tendency toward erect Tendency toward erect posture shown in all posture shown in all primates.primates.

Variously associated Variously associated with sitting, leaping, with sitting, leaping, standing, and, standing, and, occasionally, bipedal occasionally, bipedal walking.walking.

Page 8: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Flexible, generalized limb structureFlexible, generalized limb structure Retained some bones Retained some bones

(clavicle) lost in many (clavicle) lost in many other mammals.other mammals.

Retained some abilities Retained some abilities (forearm rotation) lost in (forearm rotation) lost in many other mammals.many other mammals.

Limbs used for activities Limbs used for activities other than locomotion.other than locomotion.

Page 9: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Two separate lower arm bonesTwo separate lower arm bones

Page 10: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Flexible shouldersFlexible shoulders

Page 11: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Prehensile hands (& feet)Prehensile hands (& feet)

All primates use the All primates use the hands to grasp and hands to grasp and manipulate objects.manipulate objects.

And most also use their And most also use their feet for similar feet for similar purposes.purposes.

These capabilities are These capabilities are enhanced by a number enhanced by a number of characteristics.of characteristics.

Page 12: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Grasping handsGrasping hands

Page 13: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Pentadactyly (5 digits)Pentadactyly (5 digits)

Page 14: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Pentadactyly (cont.)Pentadactyly (cont.)Lemur (at left)

Aye-aye (at right)

Slow loris (showing grooming claw)

Page 15: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Sometimes 6-digitsSometimes 6-digits

Page 16: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

An opposable thumbAn opposable thumb

Page 17: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Opposable ThumbsOpposable Thumbs

Page 18: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Nails instead of claws or hoovesNails instead of claws or hooves

Page 19: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Flat fingernails and toenailsFlat fingernails and toenails

Page 20: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Tactile PadsTactile Pads

Page 21: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Lack of Dietary SpecializationLack of Dietary Specialization

Page 22: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Generalized DentitionGeneralized Dentition

Page 23: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Three Kinds of TeethThree Kinds of Teeth

Page 24: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Seeing In ColorSeeing In Color

Primate Vision Cat Vision

No Color View

Page 25: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Seeing In Color IISeeing In Color II

Page 26: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Depth PerceptionDepth Perception

Page 27: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

See in 3-D!!!!See in 3-D!!!!The Frankfurter ExperimentThe Frankfurter Experiment

Page 28: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Why Do Primates See in 3-D?Why Do Primates See in 3-D?

Page 29: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Forward Facing EyesForward Facing Eyes

Page 30: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Large brain-to-body-size ratioLarge brain-to-body-size ratio Primates brains 2-3 X larger than Primates brains 2-3 X larger than

non-primates of the same body non-primates of the same body weight. weight.

Horse brain more than 6 X bigger Horse brain more than 6 X bigger than that of the diminutive rhesusthan that of the diminutive rhesus

However, if the two animals However, if the two animals were the same size, the monkey’s were the same size, the monkey’s brain would be 20 times larger brain would be 20 times larger than the horse.than the horse.

Page 31: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

What Do Primates Eat?What Do Primates Eat?

Page 32: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Where Do Primate Live?Where Do Primate Live?

Page 33: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Monkeys Use Monkeys Use SentencesSentences

PyowsPyows (leopards) and (leopards) and HacksHacks (crowned eagles) (crowned eagles)

Pyow-hack = move farther Pyow-hack = move farther and fasterand faster

Putty-nosed Guenon

String together 2 String together 2 different alarm calls different alarm calls to create a new to create a new messagemessage

Page 34: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Raccoon HandsRaccoon Hands Smooth, furless hands with five agile fingers.Smooth, furless hands with five agile fingers. Use fingers much the way Use fingers much the way primatesprimates do... to pick up food, to do... to pick up food, to

fish, to groom themselves and to carry things.fish, to groom themselves and to carry things. HOWEVER HOWEVER. . . . ..

Page 35: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Raccoons do NOT Raccoons do NOT have prehensile have prehensile

hands and can NOT hands and can NOT oppose their thumbs oppose their thumbs

or big toes.or big toes.

The word “raccoon” come The word “raccoon” come from the Algonquin Indian from the Algonquin Indian

word "arukun," which means word "arukun," which means "he who scratches with his "he who scratches with his

hands."hands."

Page 36: Why Study Primates?. Light shall be thrown on humanity’s history The human family is but one branch on the tree of life

Food or Food or Medicine?Medicine?

Gorillas @ salt lick

Parrots eating clay

Deer @ salt lick

Chimp eating Vernonia leaves