Study Guide for Exam 2 . Dr. Sullivan.
Classification and Speciation
Review:
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 homologies analogies primitive derived
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 convergent (parallel) evolution
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What part does priority play in the naming and classification of newly discovered organisms?
What is:
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 systematics?
cladistics?
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Contrast microevolution (alleles in populations) with macroevolution (speciation).
What is:
 the biological species concept?
 the ecological species concept?
 the recognition species concept?
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 allopatric speciation?
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 parapatric speciation?
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 sympatric speciation?
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Primate Characteristics and Adaptations
What are the traits that all primates share with other placental mammals:
1. Bigger brains and longer development
 utero development
 live birth (viviparous)
-> mammary glands (milk feeding)
 learning and flexible behavior
2. Dentition: heterodont (general purpose) -> flexible diet
3. Endothermic: internal regulation of (a constant) body temperature -> habitat flexibility
Review primate adaptations and contrast mammalian features:
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 generalized limb structure prehensile hands and feet generalized dentition
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-> dental formulas NWM: 2.1.3.3 OWM: 2.1.2.3
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 large brain and specific sensory adaptations (vision vs smell)
 life history traits: long maturation (affecting learning and behavior)
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 characteristic cranial anatomy (post-orbital bar and plate; petrosal bulla)
 generalized diet (but also dietary specializations in different species)
 unique forms of locomotion
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Review the three main ideas about the arboreal adaptation in primates (adaptation to life in the trees):
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 arboreal hypothesis
 visual predation hypothesis angiosperm hypothesis
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Primate Taxonomy I
What is the impact of contemporary genetics on traditional primate classification?
Since the 1960s, a number of different biological insights have had an impact on species classification:
 primates conventionally divided between Prosimii (lemurs lorises and tarsiers), and Anthropoidea (all monkeys and apes) [bottom of slide].
 but tarsiers are biochemically more similar to Anthropoids [although highly derived forms].
This has lead to an alternative [replacement] classification system:
 lemurs and lorises in their own suborder called Strepsirhini
 tarsiers, monkeys and apes in a new suborder called Haplorhini
Tarsiers may represent an evolutionary bridge between the prosimians ( Strepsirhine ) and the monkeys ( Haplorhine )
Review classification and geographic distribution of:
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 prosimians ( the tarsier (
Stresirhine
Haplorhine old world monkeys ( new world monkeys (
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Haplorhine
Haplorhine
)
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)
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What are platyrrhine ("flat nose") and catarrhine ("downward-facing nose")?
New World Monkey Taxa
One superfamily: Ceboidea
Four families:
[Family 1. Cebidae ]
[Family 2. Pithecidae ]
Family 3. Callitrichidae (e.g. marmosets and tamarins)
Family 4. Atelidae (e.g. squirrel, howler, spider monkeys)
Old World Monkey Taxa
One family: Cercopithecidae
Two subfamilies:
1. Cercopithecines (e.g. baboons, macaques, vervets)

2. Colobines (e.g. colobus, langurs)
Primate Taxonomy II: Hominoidea (apes and humans)
The apes are divided by geographical location:
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Asian apes (SE Asia):
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Gibbons and Orangutan
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African apes:
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Gorilla, Chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes , Pan paniscus ) H. Sapiens.
Review the differences between apes and monkeys (i.e. other Haplorhine ).
Know some of the characteristics that are unique to each ape species e.g. Orangutan is a solitary forager (also reviewed in Lecture 15).
What are the differences between common chimps ( Pan troglodytes ) and bonobo chimps
( Pan paniscus )?
Primate behavior I. Primate Ecology
Review primate ecology.
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Ecology: referring to the relationship between an organism and its environment.
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What are some habitat variables that affect primate behavior e.g. distribution of foods in a primates home range.
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What is the difference between a field (free range) and a captive study?
What is a territory, home range, core area?
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Review primate social systems:
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One male polygyny
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Multimale polygyny
-> fission-fusion polygyny
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Monogamy
Polyandry
Solitary
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Know examples of primates that belong to different groups e.g. Solitary: Orangutan and some prosimians ( Haplorhine )
Primate Behavior II. Social Behavior
Primate culture
Know some examples of nonhuman primate “culture”. e.g:
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 potato washing
 termite “fishing”  nut cracking
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 cooperative (group) hunting
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Who are Kanzi, Washoe, and Koko and what makes them special?:
 the ability to engage in non-verbal symbolic communication
How is aggression an important dynamic in chimpanzee group culture?
Sexual Selection
What is the difference between sexual selection and natural selection?
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Inter-sexual selection (selection between sexes within a species e.g. peacock tail feathers)
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Intra-sexual selection (selection within one sex e.g. large canines and sexual dimorphism in males competing in a dominance hierarchy)
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Altruism and Kin Selection
Natural selection does not predict altruistic (unselfish) behavior in animals e.g. food sharing.
Review:
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Kin Selection
 coefficient of relatedness inclusive fitness
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Review non kin-based altruism (altruism between unrelated individuals)
 b > c (the benefits of a behavior are greater than the costs)
 “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine”
Main conclusion about kin selection:
 altruistic behaviors are not random [in regard to other group members] and usually favor kin.
 when altruistic acts occur between non-kin, the benefits of the altruistic behavior will exceed the costs (b>c)
Reproductive strategies: male and female
In primates, the type and degree of parental investment is different for males and females
 female investment is limited by the resources in time and energy that a mother can invest in rearing her young.
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 male reproductive potential/investment is limited by access to receptive females.
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 male and female interests/strategies are often in conflict.
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What are some examples of sex-differences in reproductive strategies in primates?
 success
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 male reproductive success is more variable than female reproductive infanticide in langur monkeys, howler monkeys, baboons, chimps.
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