ANTH 1120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Postorbital Bar, Postorbital Bone, Quadrupedalism
16 Sep 2015
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Document Summary
Changes in primate taxonomy over time including in the last 10 years. Defined generally by 4 sets of characteristics: locomotion, sensory adaptations, dietary adaptations, behaviours. Non-human primates are quadrupedal, but there are different ways of being quadruped. *** small instances of bipedalism, however not adapted for long-distance: limbs and locomotion. Tendency towards erect posture, especially in upper body. Flexible limbs that allow different primates to practice a variety of quadruped locomotion. High degree of prehensility(a. k. a. grasping) in hands and feet (ability to grasp things). Opposable thumbs, sometimes opposable toe (i. e. gorillas). Tactile pads (good sense of touch on hands and feet): sensory adaptations: highly visual, less reliant on sense of smells. Have excellent depth perception, with eyes positioned more to the front (not sides). Enclosed bony orbit to protect eyes (post-orbital bar or post-orbital plate). Visual info to both hemispheres of brain. Ability to organize visual material into three dimensions. Brain expanded, more complex: diet and teeth:
