5.8: Modern Primate Museum (Worksheet)

Name: ______________________________

Section: _____________________________

Student ID#:__________________________

Introduction

Go to anvropomotron.com on your device and use the controls to move around. The different controls for different devices are listed on the wall you are facing:

• Computer web browser: Use the WASD keys to move and drag with the mouse to look around.
• Smartphone: Press on the screen to move forward. Press with two fingers to move backward. Enable motion controls to tilt your phone to look around. Otherwise, swipe with your finger to look.
• Virtual Reality: Use the left thumbstick to move and the right thumbstick to turn. Pushing forward on the right thumbstick activates a teleportation feature.

Part 1. VR Grab Lab

Facing the front of the bronze centerpiece, turn right and go into the VR Grab Lab. Go past the two artifact tables and turn the corner to face the back wall that features four more tables. We will be working with the two tables to the right, labeled “Modern Hominoid Skulls” and “Modern Prosimian and Monkey Skulls.” Touch the items to bring up information on the back wall and a magnified view. First, touch the modern human skull to the far right of the “Modern Hominoid Skulls” table. Then, answer these questions.

1. Compare this model with others on the table: What are some differences in the traits between the modern human skull and the others?

Now examine the chimpanzee skull next to the modern human one. Touch it to bring up its information.

2. What is the scientific name of the chimpanzee?

3. Where is the chimpanzee found in the wild?

The next two skulls to your left are the two biggest on the table. They belong to the same species, even though they have very different traits.

4. Which of the two big skulls is the larger of the two?

5. What is the term for the difference in size between males and females?

Move over to the next table to the left, labeled “Modern Prosimian and Monkey Skulls.” Skip to the second skull from the right: the mandrill.

6. The crests of bone on the cheeks of the male mandrill support the colorful pads of skin as seen in the photograph on the wall. The male mandrill has this trait to attract females. What do you think the female mandrill’s skull looks like in comparison?

Pick the small skull near the center of the table. It is the skull of a squirrel monkey.

7. What trait visible in the photograph of the squirrel monkey identifies it as a platyrrhine?

​​​The two skulls on the far left belong to the potto and the indri. Examine each one.

8. What is one of the traits on these two skulls that is not present in any of the others on the table?

Part 2. Scale Model Hall

Walk out the way you came and then pass by the left side of the Height Chart to enter the Scale Model Hall. Keep turning left until you see a model of a gray monkey on a blue structure to your left. Touch its orb to bring up some information.

9. What is the scientific name of the monkey?

10. What is the object that the monkey model is standing on? How many times larger is the model compared to the real object it is based on?

Move on to the next display, which is a series of four tarsier models. Touch the orb near it for information.

11. What ability of the tarsier is the series of models showing?

Continue to the next set of models, showing gorillas and a mouse lemur. Touch the orb to show its information.

12. While they look very different, the eastern lowland gorilla and Madame Berthe's mouse lemur both share primate traits. What are two traits they have in common?

Just a fun fact: Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is named for Berthe Rakotosamimanana, a researcher from the lemur's home island of Madagascar.

13. Real gorillas and mouse lemurs do not live together. What is the display showing by putting them together?

Turn right from the gorillas and lemur display and move toward the large orange ape sitting on the ground. As usual, touch its orb to bring up its information.

14. What is the common name of this primate?

15. Why is this primate critically endangered?

Turn left to the next display, just to the left of the doorway to the Burial Chamber (which is not part of this assignment). Look at the black-and-gold howler monkey on the branch. Touch its orb for info. Bonus fact: The “gold” part of the species's name refers to the gold color of the female. The model is based on the male.

16. Based on the information, why do you think the howler monkey has an enlarged lower jaw and throat area?

17. Consider what you know about natural selection: How would these traits act as adaptations that increase reproductive success?

Part 4. Summary

Thinking about the exhibits you have seen, put some of the information together by answering the following questions.

18. Comparing skulls with the living forms, how could studying skulls give an incomplete view of the organism? In contrast, what does studying skulls contribute to our knowledge of primates?

19. How would you describe the diversity of modern primates, based on what you have seen? Consider both biology and behavior in your answer.