Order Primates

Question 1

Order Primates

Answer 1

Eutherian mammals such as lemurs, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes

evolved from ancestors in trees in tropical forests

Question 2

Primate Shared Derived Traits

Answer 2

1. Hands feet adapted for grasping
2. Large brain and short jaws
3. Forward looking eyes overlapping fields of vision
4. Complex social behaviour and parental care

Question 3

Three Main Groups of Primates

Answer 3

1. Lemurs, lorises, and bush babies
2. Tarsiers
3. Anthropoids

Question 4

Hominoids

Answer 4

Apes

non-monkey anthropoids that lack tails and have relatively large brains

Include gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimps, bonobos, and humans

Question 5

Humans

Answer 5

Great apes with large brains and bipedal locomotion

Question 6

Shared Derived Traits of Humans

Answer 6

1. Upright posture and bipedal locomotion
2. Larger brains
3. Reduced jawbone and jaw muscles
4. Shorter digestive tracts

Question 7

Advantages of Bipedalism

Answer 7

1. Enhanced visibility of predators and prey
2. Energy-efficient locomotion for long-distance travel
3. Better thermoregulation in open habitats
4. Freed hands for carrying food, infants, and tool use

Question 8

Disadvantages of bipedalism

Answer 8

1. Vulnerability to foot injuries
2. Increased strain on hips, backs, knees, and ankles

Question 9

Skeletal adaptations for bidepalism

Answer 9

1. Skull attachment for balanced skull placement atop the vertebral column
2. Spinal curvature of s-shape to align wight over the pelvis
3. Pelvis to support organs in upright positions
4. Long legs for efficient locomotion with larger knee joints for weight support
5. Narrow foot structure with enlarged heel and big tow