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3: Primate Evolution

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    • Convergent evolution

      • Creates homoplasies (similar traits due to common function, not ancestry)

      • Two different species fill the same or similar ecological niches

    • Parallel evolution

      • Population splits into two, but they continue to evolve similarly

      • Ex: knuckle-walking (not inherited from ancestor between gorillas and chimps, but both eventually evolved to have the trait)

    • Arboreal adaptation

    • Omnivorous, many have tendency towards frugivory

    • Large brains, social complexity

    • Greater dependence of learned behavior

    • Emphasis on vision, decreased snout and olfactory areas

    • Forward-facing eyes

    • Postorbital bar or postorbital closure (refers to eye socket)

    • Upright posture

    • Retention of clavicle

    • Flexible limbs

    • Grasping hands (prehensile)

    • Dexterity

    • Opposability

    • Nails instead of claws

    • Suborder: Strepsirrhini

    • Includes lemurs, lorises, galagoes

    • Stronger reliance on smell

      • Rhinarium: wet nose, nose is connected to lip

      • Scent-marking: marking territory with urine

    • Smaller body size

    • Mostly arboreal (though some may be terrestrial)

    • Do not rely on socialization as much

    • Vertical clinging and leaping movement

    • Many are nocturnal (lorises and galagos)

      • Tapetum lucidum: reflective layer in the eye

        • Trade-off: better night vision results in fewer cones in the eye (limited color vision or complete colorblindness)

        • Found in canids, felines, some reptiles, some fish, horses, cattle, ferrets

        • Not found in squirrels, pigs, kangaroos, camels, birds, monkeys, apes, humans

    • Post-orbital bar (more eye protection, but not as much as a fully enclosed eye socket)

    • Similar to Strepsirrhines but classified as a Haplorhine (suborder Haplorhini)

      • No rhinarium

      • Post-orbital closure (enclosed eye socket)

    • Smaller body size

    • Arboreal

    • Do not rely on socialization as much

    • Only entirely carnivorous primate

    • Vertical clinging and leaping movement

    • Nocturnal with a tapetum lucidum

    • Older classification system

      • More “primitive” primates were classified as Prosimians

        • This classification would include lemurs, lorises, galagos, and tarsiers

      • More “advanced” primates were classified as Anthropoids

        • Monkeys and apes

      • Based on beliefs that humans were superior to other primates

    • Changes in classification

      • Strepsirrhini and Haplorhini suborders

        • Strepsirrhini includes lemurs, lorises, and galagos

        • Haplorhini includes tarsiers, monkeys, and apes

      • These classifications are based on physical and behavioral characteristics rather than how “human-like” the species is

    • In parvorder Platyrrhini, superfamily Ceboidea

      • Parvorder Platyrrhini: wide, flat noses with nostrils on the side

    • "New World monkeys"

    • Found in Central and South America

    • Body size is larger than Strepsirrhines, smaller than Old World monkeys

    • Post-orbital closure

    • Mostly arboreal

    • Diurnal

    • Stronger reliance on vision

    • Social behavior

    • Prehensile tail: grasping tail (they can use their tails like another hand)

    • Thick fur

    • In parvorder Catarrhini, superfamily Cercopithecoidea

      • Parvorder Catarrhini (includes Old World monkeys and apes): narrow noses with nostrils on the bottom

    • "Old World monkeys"

    • Found in Africa, Eurasia

    • Body size is larger than New World monkeys, smaller than apes

    • Post-orbital closure

    • Mostly terrestrial

    • Diurnal

    • Stronger reliance on vision

    • Tail, but it is not prehensile

    • Social behavior, live in large groups

      • Social hierarchies

      • Facial recognition

      • Tend to be more competitive and territorial

      • Consume more meat (hunting troops)

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