ANT101 - Lecture 7

Wednesday January 30, 2012

I. PRIMATES: CHARACTERISTICS & ANATOMICAL ADAPTATIONS

A. Generalized

Not developed highly specialized attributes like gnawing teeth, special armor, etc

A lot of primitive traits retained

B. Primate Group Tendencies

Pg. 117-120

Most important: grasping hands and often grasping feet with opposable thumbs and toes, and eyes

Big focus on vision in the primates

While they use other things for markings (scent and sound), vision is highly developed in primates (color vision in all but the strepsirhini)

Locomotion

Relatively generalized diet (very view are specialists)

Primates have longer maturations, greater dependence on behavioral flexibility and social groups (males tend to be part of social groups)

C. Evolutionary Factors

Pg. 120-121

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