Primate Taxonomy
1.
2.
3.
Primates
Haplorhini
Strepsirrhine
Lemur
Loris
Platyrrhini
Catarrhini
Hominoidea
Tarsier
Anthropoidea
Cercopithecoidea
ateloidea
Taxonomy
Directions
Biological anthropologists use taxonomy to organize primates on the basis of shared
characteristics. As we have reviewed in our mini-lectures and textbook, building a
taxonomic chart is useful for interpreting and understanding evolutionary relationships. The chart above is a simplified version of primate taxonomy that highlights
only the groups we focus on most (i.e. not all groups are listed here).
Your task is to fill-out the boxes in the chart above. This will serve as a visual representation of the information we review throughout module 8. The more detailed you
are here, the better prepared you’ll be for the exam.
1
For Box #1, please identify the three tendancies all primates must have to
belong to the Order Primates.
2
In all other boxes, list a few morphological characteristics associated with
each group (i.e what they look like, anatomical features, etc.).
3
In all other boxes, list a few socioecological characteristics associated
with each group (i.e. behaviors, activity patterns, diet, etc.)
4
In each box that includes a picture of a primate, list at least one species
that belongs to this group (i.e. gorilla, spider monkey, baboon, etc.)
Remember, as we work our way down the taxonomy we get
more and more specific about group requirements. Eventually,
we make it to the species level which contains only one type
of primate (i.e. humans).
Order
Sub-Order
infra-Order
Parv-Order
Super Family
Family
Sub-Family
Tribe
Genus
Species