ANTH 1001 Chapter : Old World Monkeys
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Old World Monkeys
Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
OW Monkeys are in Africa and Asia
Ow Monkey Morphologies:
- arms and legs more equal in length
- narrow thorax
- less mobile wrist
- more lumbar vertebrae
- non-prehensile tail
- dental formula: 2,1,2,3
- bilophodont cusp pattern on lower molars
OW Monkeys have a polygynous social organization
Geenralization—species with a polygynous social organization show sexual
dimorphism in both canine tooth size and body size; males are larger than females.
Sexual dimorphism evolves in polygynous species because males compete
among themselves for rank I the dominance hierarchy (multiple male polygyny) or
for control of a group of females (single-male polygyny)
Large canines and body size are effective in threat display and
physical confrontation
OW Monkey locomotion is quadrupedal on the ground and in the trees
2 subfamilies
Cercopithecines
Diet: omnivorous—some eat seeds and some small mammals
Anatomical specialization: cheek pouches
Colobines
Diet: folivory
Anatomical specialization: enlarged, complex stomach to digest large amounts of
leaves
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
(savanna baboon)
- social organization is multiple male polygyny
o males emigrate from birth troop; females stay in birth troop
o separate dominance hierarchies for adult males and females
- occasionally eat small mammals and birds
- savanna baboon used as model for early hominin social organization and
behavior
