Graphical summary
imour33
9-PrimateTaxonomy1.pptx
Primate Taxonomy 1
Anthropology 2200
Examine primate classification
Pygmy Marmosets
2
SIZE DIVERSITY IN PRIMATES
Mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae)
3.6 inches, 1.1 oz
Adult Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
440 lb
Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae) or Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest of the mouse lemurs and the smallest primate in the world; the average body length is 92 millimetres (3.6 in) and seasonal weight is around 30 g (1.1 oz).[3] , to adult male gorilla 200kg, and you are one too
Live on 6 of 7 continents, non-human primates found on 5 of 7
Huge range of lifestyles, huge range of habitats, foods, etc…
4
loris
gibbon
aye aye
gorilla
chimpanzee
tarsier
capuchin
orangutan
spider monkey
baboon
ring tailed
lemur
Japanese
macaque
bonobo
howler
monkey
mouse
lemur
5
Primates
What is a Primate?
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Suborders:
Strepsirhines (Lemur, Loris, Galago)
Infraorder: Lemuriformes
Haplorhines (Tarsiers, Monkeys, Apes, and Humans)
Infraorders:
Tarsiiformes
Anthropoidea (Parvorders = Platyrrhini and Catarrhini)
Slender Loris
6
Taxonomy
Cladistic Taxonomy:
Haplorhini/Strepsirrhini
Nomenclature preferred by many
Places Tarsiers in with Haplorhines
Many believe this system is more evolutionarily accurate!
Tarsiers
Strepsirhines vs. Haplorhines
Strepsirhines: lemurs, lorises, galagos
Haplorhines: everything else (tarsiers, New World Monkeys, Old World Monkeys, Apes, humans)
They split around 55-80 million years ago
1. Split occurs around 50-60mya, genetic data from molecular clock puts split at 58-71mya
2. In general, strep possess more primitive traits, that is traits they share with the LCA of all primates, still well adapted, just do not have a whole suite of novel/derived features
9
Slender Loris
Galago/Bush Baby
Ring Tailed Lemur
Strepsirhines
10
Ring-tailed lemur
Strepsirhines
Found in Africa and Asia (13% of Primates)
Retain many primitive characteristics
This does not mean that they are the ancestors of monkeys!!!
12
High rates of nocturnality
Primitive Trait
Tapetum lucidum
Layer behind the retina
Reflects visible light back through the retina
Improves vision in low light conditions
Sportive Lemur
Retina
13
Post Orbital Bar: No Closure
Primitive Trait
Partially stereoscopic vision (primitive)
Lack color vision (primitive)
14
Reliance on Olfaction
Communication for nocturnal animals
Ancestral trait
Scent glands
Marking
Messages
Large olfactory bulb
Part of brain for scent
Rhinarium moist nose
readily picks up scents
Mouse Lemur
Ring Tail Lemur
15
Grooming claw
Primitive Trait
Lemurs, Galagos, Lorises: 2nd Toe (Aye-Aye = 2-5)
Purpose:
Grooming
Extracting insects
Ruffled Lemur
Galago
16
Tooth comb
Derived Trait
Used for:
Grooming
Extracting resin from trees
Ring Tailed Lemur
Lemuroidea : Lemurs
Only found on the island of Madagascar
Only non-human primate found there
Lots of diversity
20 mya split from Africa
Adaptive radiation
Represent 21% of primate genera worldwide
18
Lemuroidea : Lemurs
Ring-tailed lemur
More terrestrial
Black and white ringed tail
Omnivorous
Diurnal
Forest and spiny scrub
Highly social
Female dominant
Common in Lemurs
Sent marking
Stink Fighting
19
Lemuroidea : Lemurs
Mouse lemur
Smallest primate
< 1 lb.
Eat insects, small vertebrates, gum, fruit, flowers, nectar, leaves
Nocturnal
20
Grey mouse lemur
Additional Traits
Tend to have more specialized diets and behaviors than anthropoids (derived)
Often fill very specific niches
Lemurs on Madagascar
Vertical clinging and leaping
Often solitary
Sifaka Clinging
22
Sifaka
Lemuroidea : Aye-aye
Aye-aye
Nocturnal
Mainly insectivorous
Thin middle finger to forage for grubs
Taps to find grubs
Gnaws bark
Uses finger to pull out grubs
Solitary
24
Aye-aye
Lorisoidea: Lorises
Lorises
Tropical Africa and Southeast Asia
Nocturnal
Slow-moving, deliberate stalkers of small prey
26
Lorisoidea: Lorises
Slow loris
Toxic bite
Lick gland on their arm
Secretion activates with saliva (adult/baby)
Communicate by sent marking
Eat small animals, fruit, gum, vegetation
Hunted for exotic pet trade
27
The Bite of a Slow Loris
How poisonous is the slow loris?
Allergen similar to Felid 1
Cat allergen in dander
Anaphylactic shock
Red blood cells in urine
Depends how allergic you are!
28
Lorisoidea: Galagos
“Bush-babies” – Subfamily of Lorises
Sub-Saharan Africa
Nocturnal
Vertical clingers and leapers
Insectivorous
29
Lorisoidea: Galagos
Can turn its head over 180 degrees
Index finger more widely spaced
Feeding
Gripping branches
Nocturnal
Large Eyes
Large Ears
-Larger eyes and ears reflect nocturnal adaptations
30
Haplorhini
31
Tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans
Differ from Strepsirhines in a variety of ways
Larger body
Larger brain-to-body size ratio
More sexually dimorphic
Less specialized dentition (fewer premolars)
Greater reliance on vision than on smell
Post-orbital closure
Diurnal rather than nocturnal
Tarsiers vs. all other Haplorhines
Tarsiers are taxonomically problematic
Prosimian/anthropoid
Strepsirhine/haplorhine
They possess a mixture of primitive and derived traits
Divergence time of ca. 50-70 Million years ago?
1. Split occurs around 50-60mya, genetic data from molecular clock puts split at 58-71mya
2. In general, strep possess more primitive traits, that is traits they share with the LCA of all primates, still well adapted, just do not have a whole suite of novel/derived features
32
Infraorder: Tarsiiformes (Tarsiers)
Tarsiers
Southeast Asia
Nocturnal
eye larger than brain
Vertical clingers and leapers
Grooming claw: 2nd and 3rd Toes
Highly carnivorous
Lizards, frogs, insects
33
Tarsiiformes: Tarsiers
Name refers to two elongated tarsals – extra leverage for leaping
34
Tarsiers
