ANT 2511 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Dentition, Oligocene, Paleocene
Document Summary
Non-human primate distribution: mainly in tropical environment (on or below the equator, primates evolved to live in trees. 4 limbs; a primitive trait: bipedalism- walking on two legs; a derived trait. Primates are distinguished from other mammals by their specialized morphology and traits. General primate traits: arboreal adaption, dietary plasticity, parental investment. Arboreal adaption: primates live in trees and are good at it: 1-a. Humans are the only apes without opposable big toe. Pentadactility (five digits) and nails, not claws, contribute to whole hand prehensility (grasping ability) Tactile pads enhance our sense of touch. Fingerprints at the tips (dermatoglyphics) enhance grip. Hands, rather than snout, used as an exploratory and manipulative organ. Eyes are rotated to the front of the head with overlapping fields of vision. Things that are eaten= eyes on the side: 1-d. Most primates have no rhinorium (wet nose) but many prosimians retain it. Smell is a secondary sense in most primates.
