ANTH 1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Trichromacy, Postorbital Bar, Haplorhini
Document Summary
Features primates share with other placental mammals. Expansion of the neocortex of the brain. Placenta, long gestation followed followed by live birth. Two separate bones in lower arm (ulna and radius) Five digits of the hands and feet. High degree of grasping ability in the hands and feet. Most primates have nails instead of claws. Sensitive tactile pads with skin ridges on the tips of digits. Decreased reliance on olfaction, particularly in haplorhines. Olfactory regions of the brain are reduced. Nasal structures of the skull are reduced. Haplorhines lack a moist skin surrounding the nostrils. Trichromatic color vision in old world monkeys and humans, and some new world monkeys. Primates have forward-facing eyes with an enclosed bony orbit (postorbital bar) Large brain relative to body size, expanded neocortex. Give birth to single offspring with some exceptions. Learn from group mates: one reason for long childhood. Primates also display considerable diversity in locomotor and dietary adaptations.
