ANT333Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Mouse Lemur, Cheirogaleidae, Postorbital Bar
Document Summary
Ant333 lecture 2 - review of living primates & systematics: strepsirhines. Many aspects of the teeth, skulls, and limbs of strepsirhines are similar to those found in primates of the eocene epoch (50-40 mya). It is the retention of primitive features that characterize strepsirhines. Not primitive , their traits have allowed them to survive for many years without having to change. Strepsirhines united by 3 specialized features of hard anatomy : tooth comb. Lower incisors, used for grooming: laterally flaring talus. Heel bone: grooming claw on second digit of feet. Relatively small braincase compared to haplorhines. Primitive mammalian nasal region with a sphenoid recess: nose sticks out rely more on olfaction, wet rhinarium. Nocturnal, most active just after nightfall and before sunrise. Mirza (300-325 g) substantially bigger than microcebus. Found higher in forest, tend to prefer thicker and taller trees. Diet is similar to microcebus expect mirza eat more gum: genus cheirogaleus.
