ANT203H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Estrous Cycle, Polygynandry, Colobinae
Document Summary
What makes human unique: linnaean system of taxonomy. Kingdom animalia > phylum chordata > subphylum vertebrata > class mammalia > infraclass eutherian: theories of primate origins. Arboreal; visual predation; angiosperm co-evolution: order primates cladistic classification. Strepsirrhini (wet noses) and haplorrhine (dry noses: symplesiomorphic traits of primates. Generalized mammalian body; clavicle; flexible forelimbs; 5 digits; heterodont dentition: synamorphic traits of primates. Adaptations related to an increase in vision reliance, and decrease in reliance on smell. Morphological traits associated with social complexity and behavior: trends that characterize primates. Walking, slow climbing (lorises), claw climbing and clinging. Body is propelled from one branch to another by hind limbs. Highly specialized mode of suspensory locomotion (gibbons) Pendular arm swinging, hand over hand movement. Humans are the only habitual bipeds though other primates may be able to use it occasionally. Primates are among the most social of animals. The composition of the social group: number of m, f, age structure, relatedness of individuals, dispersals.
