ANTH 1120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Grooming Claw, Postorbital Bar, Haplorhini
17 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Changes in primate taxonomy over time including in the last 10 years. Over 300 primate species indetified: -mostly in tropics and sub tropics, huge size range, defined generally by 4 sets of characteristics (locomotion, senory adaptations, dietary adaptations and behaviours) Limbs and locomotion ! tendency to erect posture; especially in upper body. Flexible limbs that allow different primates to practice a variety of quadruped locomotion non-human primates are quadrupeds, but there are different kinds of quadrupedalism; Brachiation(swinging), clinging. leaping, knuckle walking, still some similarities with us and with each other. high degree of prehensility in hands and feet(ability to grasp things); Five digits; opposable thumbs (sometimes opposable big toes i. e. gorillas); generally nails, not claws (some exceptions); tactile pads(good sense of touch on hands & feet. Diet and teeth: although there are differences among the species, overall the teeth and diet are not overly specialized ! can eat a variety of things(generally omnivorous)
