![]() ![]() Strepsirrhines, also called the wet-nosed primates, include prosimians like the bush babies and pottos of Africa, the lemurs of Madagascar, and the lorises of Southeast Asia. Order Primates is divided into two groups: Strepsirrhini (“turned-nosed”) and Haplorhini (“simple-nosed”) primates. Other characteristics of primates are brains that are larger than those of most other mammals, claws that have been modified into flattened nails, typically only one offspring per pregnancy, and a trend toward holding the body upright. These adaptations include, but are not limited to: 1) a rotating shoulder joint, 2) a big toe that is widely separated from the other toes (except humans) and thumbs sufficiently separated from fingers to allow for gripping branches, and 3) stereoscopic vision, two overlapping fields of vision from the eyes, which allows for the perception of depth and gauging distance. This arboreal heritage of primates has resulted in hands and feet that are adapted for climbing, or brachiation (swinging through trees using the arms). Characteristics of PrimatesĪll primate species possess adaptations for climbing trees, as they all descended from tree-dwellers. ![]() The characteristics and evolution of primates are of particular interest to us as they allow us to understand the evolution of our own species. They range in size from the mouse lemur at 30 grams (1 ounce) to the mountain gorilla at 200 kilograms (441 pounds). Non-human primates live primarily in the tropical or subtropical regions of South America, Africa, and Asia. Order Primates of class Mammalia includes lemurs, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans. Explain why scientists are having difficulty determining the true lines of descent in hominids.Identify the major hominin precursors to modern humans.Describe the defining features of the major groups of primates.Describe the derived features that distinguish primates from other animals.By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following: ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |