http://www.eskeletons.org/comparative.html http://www.azdrybones.com/primates.htm http://www.skullsunlimited.com/old_world_primates.html EXTANT PRIMATES There are more than 350 species of primates ( a lot of them are actually endangered ) , varying in size from the pygmy mouse lemur (weighing about an ounce) to gorillas (males can weigh up to 600 pounds). Most live in the tropics or subtropics, and most depend on forests for their survival. Primates share characteristics—such as five-fingered hands with opposing thumbs, forward-facing eyes, and color vision—but they do vary greatly, especially from prosimian to monkey to ape. Prosimians Monkeys Apes includes about 50 species; lemurs in Madagascar, lorises in West Africa and Southeast Asia and bushbabies in Africa smallest in size arms shorter than legs strong hind legs for leaping and clinging to tree trunks most are nocturnal tooth comb some have visible tails grooming claws wet nose and dog-like snout, developed sense of smell includes more than 200 species, New World in South and Central America, Old World in Africa and Asia, and tarsiers in Southeast Asia smaller in size arms equal in length to or shorter than legs limited shoulder rotation diurnal (active during the day) chest deeper than broad most have visible tails includes about 14 species; gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees in Africa, and orangutans and gibbons in Southeast Asia larger in size (except for gibbons) arms longer than legs full shoulder rotation diurnal broad chest light-reflecting eyes 75 / 77 OrangBorneoFemale.jpg nails on all digits (except Callitrichidae—marmosets and tamarins) dry nose, lack snout, weak sense of smell (large teeth may extend the snout) no tails nails on all digits dry nose, lack snout, weak sense of smell lack of hair on face 76 / 77 Sumatran-OrangutanMale.jpg Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus abelii). This species is more dependent on fruit than the Bornean type. It is truly arboreal and moves through the trees by brachiation. Male skull. Orangutan-Juv.jpg Juvenile Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). http://digimorph.org/listbysubgroup.phtml?grp=Primate&sort=SpeciesName Gorilla gorilla • mandible Mountain Gorilla Gorilla gorilla • skull Mountain Gorilla GorillaMale.jpg Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). The gorilla, the largest of the living primates, is a ground-dwelling omnivore that inhabits the forests of Africa. Male skull. GorillaFemale.jpg Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). Female Skull. Male & female gorilla Male and female gorilla http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_01/gorrillaDM0711_468x519.jpg Close cousins of man, gorillas have a hunched, almost-human appearance when reduced to the bare bones. We share more than 95 per cent of our DNA with these magnificent apes MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, PARIS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-492359/Close-bone-The-amazing-pictures-revealevolution-shaped-animal-skeletons.html 68 / 77 skeleton-gorilla.jpg http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/animal-kingdom/primate-mammals/gorilla/skeleton-gorilla.jpg Lowland Gorilla Skull The largest of all primates, it's hair is colored from black to grayish or reddish-brown that covers the body except on face, soles of hands and feet, and upper chest; adult males or silverbacks acquire a silver-gray color across the back and upper thighs at sexual maturity. Click on the picture for a larger image. http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/gorilla.html Human/ Homo Sapiens sapiens University of Texas Anthropology Department Collection http://www.eskeletons.org/taxon/human/boneviewer/skull/cranium.html#Inferior MORPHOLOGY o o o o o o o o Zygomatic Vomer Nasal Frontal Ethmoid Anterior Superior optical fissure Maxilla o o o o o o o o Zygomatic Temporal Sphenoid Parietal Palatine Occipital Maxilla Inferior o o o o o o o o o Maxilla Sphenoid Occipital Frontal Nasal Parietal Zygomatic Temporal Lateral o o o o Temporal Parietal Occipital Posterior o o o o o o ORIGINS o o o o o Anterior Inferior Lateral Posterior Superior INSERTIONS o o o o o Temporal Parietal Nasal Frontal Superior Maxilla Anterior Inferior Lateral Posterior Superior ARTICULATIONS o Inferior MOVIE PROVENIENCE Human fetus.JPG Fetal chimpansee 71 / 77 chimp bonobo.JPG 72 / 77 Chimpanzeefemale.jpg 73 / 77 Pigmy-ChimpanzeeMale.jpg Bonobo (Pan paniscus). Bonobos are found only south of the Congo River and north of the Kasai River (a tributary of the Congo), in the humid forests of the Congo of central Africa. Male skull. Skeleton. Notre Dame University http://ocw.nd.edu/anthropology/primate-behavior/Skeleton.jpg chimpansee 44 / 77 baboon.jpg Baboon (Old World Monkey) from the U of M Physical Anthropology Laboratory. Note the ground adapted quadrupedalism, tail and prognathism. http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/5579/week3livingprimates.html The Chacma baboon is found to be indigenous to the savanna woodlands and mountains of South Africa. Males of this species have large canines that are used aggressively for defense. Adult males can weigh up to 75 lbs (35Kg), however, females are much smaller. Chacma baboons have a life span of about 18 years 49 / 77 Chacma baboon.JPG 51 / 77 HamadryasBaboon.jpg Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas). The northernmost of all the baboons, its range extends from the Red Sea in Egypt to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. It also lives on the Arabian peninsula, though it is uncertain if this population was introduced by humans or not. The Hamadryas Baboon was a sacred animal to the ancient Egyptians as the attendant of Thoth, and so is also called the Sacred Baboon. Male skull 52 / 77 HamadryasFemale.jpg Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas). Female skull Papio ursinus Chacma is a Hottentot name for the species. TAXONOMY Order - Primates (lemurs, monkeys & apes) Suborder - Anthropoidea ("man-like") Family - Cercopithecidae (old-world monkeys) Also featured on this site - Hamadryas Baboon andMandrill PAGE INDEX 1. Male, Lateral view 2. Female, Lateral view 3. Male, Ventral view 4. Male, Anterior view 5. Details Dental Formula : 2.1.2.3 / 2.1.2.3 1.Chacma Baboon Skull, male, lateral view. 1.Chacma Baboon Skull, female, lateral view. 1.Chacma Baboon Skull, male, ventral view. 1.Chacma Baboon Skull, male, anterior view. The groove in the Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus Local and widespread: we had parties in Cape of Good Hope NP (where they are reintroduced); in rocky country from Augrabies Falls NP to Erongo Wilderness Lodge (where they made quite a racket); and then daily along Okavango River (Mahango Reserve [this shot, left] and in Botswana) http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/swAfrica2005mammals.html Chacma baboon.male , female , baby.JPG Papio hamadryas TAXONOMY Order - Primates (lemurs, monkeys & apes) Suborder - Anthropoidea ("man-like") Family - Cercopithecidae (old-world monkeys) Also featured on this site, Chacma Baboon and Mandrill. Dental Formula : 2.1.2.3 / 2.1.2.3 1.Hamadryas Baboon skull, male, lateral view. This individual was over 30yrs old when it died. 1.Hamadryas Details http://www.skullsite.co.uk/Hamad/hamad.htm The gelada baboon is found only within the country of Ethiopia in Africa. This high altitude primate is more terrestrial than most other monkeys. The gelada eats a variety of grasses, roots and other plant parts. They will also occasionally eat invertebrates. Due to loss of habitat to human farming, gelada populations are declining Gelada.JPG Gelada-Baboon.jpg Gelada Baboon (Theriopithecus gelada). Found only in the Ethiopian Highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, with large populations in the Semien Mountains. Restricted at present to Ethiopia and Eritrea, the genus is also known from fossil specimens found in Africa and the Mediterranean into Asia, including South Africa, Malawi, the Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, and India. Male skull. Mandrillus sphinx One of the strangest-looking of the old-world monkeys, with its bright colours and swollen snout, which can be seen to be a skeletal feature. Also featured on this site Hamadryas Baboon and Chacma Baboon. TAXONOMY Order - Primates (lemurs, monkeys & apes) Suborder Anthropoidea ("man-like") Family - Cercopithecidae (old-world monkeys) Details Dental Formula : 2.1.2.3 / 2.1.2.3 1.Mandrill Skull, male, lateral view. 1.Mandrill Skull, male, anterior view. The groove in the upper canines is typical of baboons http://www.skullsite.co.uk/Mandrill/mandrill.htm Mandrill Baboon Found in west central Africa in the countries of Congo, Gabon and the Cameroons, the Mandrill Baboon is at home in the rainforests. Although they are true quadrupeds, their opposable thumb and flexible clavicles allow them to be at home in the trees, where they often are found at night. Their brilliantly colored face distinguishes them from other baboons and primates. Their large head and prominent fangs (especially in males) make them formidable adversaries. They are omnivorous, eating fruit, roots, insects and reptiles. 48 / 77 MandrilMale. Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx). The Mandrill is the world's largest species of monkey. The Mandrill is found in the tropical rainforests of southern Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo. One of our casts was used to guide veterinary surgeons sucessfully operating on the skull of a captive animal in the Reid Park Zoo of Tucson, Arizona. Male skull. bavianen schedels I.JPG 34 / 77 Sooty-MangabeyMale.jpg Sooty Mangabey (Cercocebus atys). A White-eyelid Mangabey from Africa, found in Guinea Bissau, Gabon, and C�te d'Ivoire. Male Skull. Anthropoid Evolution Many of the interesting traits and functions that we study in primates are housed in the skull: the brain, facial expression vocalization, to name a few. Because of its importance to primates such as ourselves, evolution of skull form and functi question of evolutionary anthropology. The fact that we share so many aspects of our development and our genetic ma allows us to learn much about human evolutionary history by looking at non-human primates. Anthropoids Non-anthropoids Figure 1. What is an anthropoid? Anthropoid primates in and apes (including humans), and exclude prosimians a to left): capuchin monkeys, a chimpanzee, and a macaq and a lemur (a prosimian). Baboons and other living monkeys, as well as apes and humans, are anthropoid (literally, “humanlike”) primates. In addition to being numerous and easily adaptable to captivity, baboons (and their ancestors) are well-represented in the fossil record. All of these traits make them an excellent model species for scientific research. Additionally, the baboons are part of a radiation of primates—the papionins—that includes many other closely-related species that exhibit a range of skull shapes. For this reason, the papionins are a useful group of primates with which to model the differences in skull form that we find in the fossil record of hominids (humans and their closest ancestors). In this project we take advantage of similarities between hominids and papionins to learn about how certain features (like small teeth and a big brain) have been selected for during human evolution. Figure 2. What is a papionin? The papionin monkeys include macaques, mangabeys, and several baboon-like species. Left to right: arboreal mangabey, mandrill, gelada baboon, olive baboon. http://www.hominid.psu.edu/AnthropoidEvolutionG.html Anthropoid Evolution One of the ultimate goals of evolutionary anthropology is to identify the genetic changes responsible for primate evolutio the craniofacial complex. Knowledge of the genotype-phenotype relationship is critical to understanding human origins level. Evidence points to large numbers of genes involved in craniofacial development, any of which may be involved in variation within or between species. Remarkably, years of research in experimental biology and genetics have demonstrated the consistently deep phylogen developmental networks. New shapes do not need new genes, and shape can evolve quickly by tinkering with an existi and formation of such traits almost certainly involves many genes organized into networks of interaction. Craniofacial va variation in the parameters of these generative processes (e.g., signals, receptors, activators, inhibitors, second messe factors, structural genes). Fortunately, like the genes themselves, these networks are highly conserved among mamma Baboons are an excellent model species in which to investigate the role of potential candidate genes in producing crani are plentiful and adaptable to captivity. As anthropoid primates (the broad group that includes monkeys and apes), babo humans many aspects of their development and genetic makeup. Comparative genomic studies of humans, baboons, a eventually allow us to design tests for specific hypotheses regarding the role of a particular gene in the evolution of a gi defined clade. Baboons belong to a group of Old World Monkeys called the papionins which includes macaques, mang relatives. Figure 1. Molecular phylogeny of the extant papionins. Papionin phylogeny: using baboons to model Hominid craniofacial evolution The fossil record of Plio-Pleistocene papionins in Africa is excellent and crania are relatively common. Mitochondrial DN two African papionin clades diverged about 6-8 Ma (million years ago), similar to times suggested by molecular clocks f chimpanzees and humans. The Mandrillus and Cercocebusclade split from the Theropithecus, Lophocebus and Papio c like” and a “mangabey-like” lineage in each (Figure 1). Thus, molecular and morphological evidence points to independ like” genera. Species of Parapapio are morphologically close to the expected ancestral morphotype of both lineages an are from about 6.5 Ma. The dominant east African genus at 6.5 Ma was Theropithecus (Figure 2), now restricted to T. g radiation during the Plio-Pleistocene. The genus Papio replaced Parapapio and Theropithecus ecologically during the P are adaptable omnivores. The mandrill/Cercocebus clade can be contrasted with the Papio/Lophocebus clade in both o “baboons” have evolved independently. There are considerable cranial differences between Theropithecus and Papio th as being similar to those seen between Homo and Australopithecus and these are of considerable interest. The papioni an appropriate choice for modeling hominid craniofacial evolution. Figure 2. Lateral view of a skull of the extinct baboon Theropithecus oswaldi. Salient craniofacial features It is now generally recognized that the large faced “baboons” and the mangabeys are polyphyletic. Morphologists have support both a diphyletic origin of baboons (Papio) and mandrills (Mandrillus) and a concordant diphyletic origin of man Lophocebus). Large faced “baboons” and hard object eating mangabeys have evolved twice from a primitive condition. dimorphism has arisen convergently in the two main large faced African groups and similarities in cranial size and shap Dimorphism has seemingly been reduced and increased in different hominid lineages, and several differences between some of those seen between chimpanzees and Australopithecus and Homo (e.g. facial shortness, petrous orientation, h mandibular rami, cranial base flexion, relative incisor and cheek tooth size) (Figure 3). Figure 3. Comparison of skull form in the Pan-Homo clade (above) and in the papionins (below). The papionin radiation, then, shows a suite of evolutionary changes that have also occurred or been reversed in homini candidate genes for certain traits that have occurred independently in the living papionins, we will understand similar tra Identifying the developmental gene networks responsible for these traits will allow us to establish the likely first appeara fossil lineages. This will give time depth information to the molecular results, and strengthen research in papionin paleontology. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/sciencestories/2007/bloch_primate.htm HYLOBATES Hylobates sp Gibbon skeleton Hylobates sp http://www.dundee.ac.uk/museum/zoology/skeletons.htm gibbonbody.jpgGibbon skeleton (Hylobatidae) from the Old World. U of M Physical Anthropology Lab. Gibbons have no tails, have a 2-1-2-3 Old World dental pattern. http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/5579/week3livingprimates.html Gibbon http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_01/gibbonDM0711_228x643.jpg GIBBON The most evocative skeletons, of course, are those of the primates, from which humans evolved. The long arms of the gibbon show that the creature is well adapted to life in the forests MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, PARIS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-492359/Close-bone-The-amazing-pictures-revealevolution-shaped-animal-skeletons.html 62 / 77 gibbon.jpg Gibbons brachiate and have permanently curved fingers. http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/5579/week3livingprimates.html 63 / 77 White-Handed-Gibbon.jpg White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar). The range of the Lar Gibbon extends from southwest China and eastern Myanmar to Thailand and down the whole Malay Peninsula. It is also present in the northwest portion of the island of Sumatra. Lar Gibbons are diurnal and arboreal, inhabiting rain forests. Their diet consists primarily of fruits, although they also eat leaves, buds, and insects. 64 / 77 Siamang-Gibbon.jpg Siamang Gibbon (Symphalangus syndactylus). Native to the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra, this is the largest of the lesser apes. Two fingers on each hand are fused together, hence the name "syndactylus". Male skull. Quadruped primates http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/2007/10/know_your_primate_quadrupeds.php Cebus apella • skull (adult, male) Tufted Capuchin Cebus apella • skull (juvenile, female) Tufted Capuchin Cebus apella • skull (juvenile, female) Tufted Capuchin Cebus apella • skull (juvenile, female) Tufted Capuchin Cebus apella • skull (juvenile, female) Tufted Capuchin Brown Capuchin Monkey //Cebus apella, 31 / 77 Brown Capuchin Monkey 32 / 77 Weeping-Capuchin.jpg Weeping Capuchin Monkey (Cebus olivaceous). Found in Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela. Their name comes from their coloration, which resembles the cowls worn by the Capuchin order of Roman Catholic friars. Cacajao calvus • skull (adult, male) Bald Uakari Cacajao calvus • skull (adult, male) Bald Uakari Cacajao calvus • skull (juvenile, male) Bald Uakari Cacajao melanocephalus • skull (juvenile, female) Black Headed Uakari Cacajao melanocephalus • skull (juvenile, female) Black Headed Uakari 33 / 77 Red-Faced-Uakari.jpg Red Uakari Monkey (Cacajao calvus). Also called the Bald Uakari, this is a distinctive red-faced monkey found in swampy forests in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. The species is considered "near threatened". Female skull. Alouatta seniculus • skull (juvenile, female) Red Howler Monkey Alouatta seniculus • skull (juvenile, male) Red Howler Monkey Alouatta seniculus • skull (juvenile, male) Red Howler Monkey Alouatta seniculus • skull (juvenile, male) Red Howler Monkey Alouatta seniculus • skull (juvenile, male) Red Howler Monkey Aotus trivirgatus • skull (juvenile, female) Owl Monkey Aotus trivirgatus • skull (juvenile, female) Owl Monkey Aotus trivirgatus • skull (juvenile, female) Owl Monkey Aotus trivirgatus • skull (juvenile, female) Owl Monkey Aotus trivirgatus • skull (juvenile, male) Owl Monkey Leontopithecus rosalia • skull (adult, male) Golden Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia • skull (juvenile, female) Golden Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia • skull (juvenile, female) Golden Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia • skull (juvenile, female) Golden Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia • skull (juvenile, male) Golden Lion Tamarin Lagothrix lagotricha • skull (juvenile) Wooly Monkey Lagothrix lagotricha • skull (juvenile, female) Wooly Monkey Lagothrix lagotricha • skull (juvenile, male) Wooly Monkey Lagothrix lagotricha • skull (juvenile, male) Wooly Monkey Lagothrix lagotricha • skull (juvenile, male) Wooly Monkey The Mona Monkey is native to the primary and secondary forests of West Africa. They live a diurnal, arboreal life feeding on fruit, leaves and insects Click any Image for Larger View Male Female 36 / 77 Monkey-Mona.jpg Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus mona). The Mona Monkey is an Old World monkey that lives throughout Western Africa. This guenon lives in groups of up to 35 in arboreal regions. It mainly feeds on fruit but sometimes eats insects and leaves, and carries food in cheek pouches. Male skull. patas monkey The , also called the red guenon, is found in a large area of central and western Africa. This medium sized primate is primarily ground dwelling, but may take to trees to forage or escape danger. Patas monkeys are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of leaves, grasses, berries, insects and small vertebrates. This species displays strong sexual dimorphism with the males nearly doubling the females in size. Patas Monkey Skull High Resolution Patas-Monkey.jpg Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas). The Patas Monkey is a ground-dwelling species distributed over West Africa, living in treeless savanna and semi-deserts. They feed on insects, seeds and tubers. MARMOSET Callithrix jacchus PAGE INDEX 1. Marmoset skull, lateral view 2. Marmoset skull, anterior view 3. Details 4. Web Links There are about 35 species of marmoset, many of which are colourful and have elaborate 'hair styles'. They are all found in S. America. Dental Formula : 2.1.2.3 / 2.1.2.3 TAXONOMY Order - Primates ('first' group) Suborder Anthropoidea ('man like') Family Callithricidae ('beautiful hair') 1.Marmoset skull, lateral view. 2.Marmoset skull, anterior view. Details of Specimens Illustrated Image 1 & 2 Marmoset Callithrix jacchus Stage - adult Died in captivity Acknowledgement - Courtesy of J. Williams Collection Measurements Overall length Web Links UMICH Animal Diversity Web common marmoset.JPG 45.2mm Overall width 28.2mm Callithrix jacchus, http://www.skullsunlimited.com/primate-skeletons-for-sale.html Pygmee marmoset Cebuella pygmaea Marmosets, like tamarins, are small new world primates that inhabit the rainforests of central and South America. Most marmosets are diurnal, arboreal, omnivores, eating a variety or fruits, leaves and insects. The pygmy marmoset is native to parts of Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil 27 / 77 Mexican-Howler-Monkey.jpg Central American Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra) Found in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, they are known for their loud vocalizations. 28 / 77 Spider-Monkey.jpg red-faced Spider Monkey (Ateles paniscus). The Red-faced Spider Monkey, is found from Brazil to Guyana and French Guiana. It lives in groups of about 20 individuals, splitting into small units of 1 to 5 when foraging. Male skull. Brown Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha). Also called the Common Woolly Monkey, it is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. It lives in groups of 2 to 70 individuals, usually splitting the group into smaller subgroups while in activity. The VERVET MONKEY , also called the green, the grivet and the Tantalus monkey, is native to Africa and is the most common of the savanna monkeys. The vervet monkey's physical description can be summed up as a medium sized primate approximately 40 to 60 cm (15.7" to 23.6") in length with a tale measuring 30 to 50 cm (11.8" to 19.6"). This species can weigh between 3 and 5 kg (6.6 to 11 lbs). The vervet?s coat is silky and color varies from silver to yellow to reddish to green depending on geographic location. Vervets are characterized by their black face and white brow. This species is sexually dimorphic with males being nearly .5% larger than females. Vervets possess elongated whiskers that are usually white or pale yellow in color and can differ in length between individuals. On of the defining characteristic of this species, and the source of its name, is the greenish color of the upper parts of the face. This coloration is an illusion caused by individual hairs with black and yellow strands. Male vervets can be clearly identified by their blue scrotum. Chlorocebus (formerly known as Cercopithecus) aethiops, has a large geographic range and can be found throughout central Africa and southward over much of the continent. Vervets are both terrestrial and ground dwelling. Their habitat consists of savanna grassland as well as scrub forest. However, and unlike many other African primate species, vervets are very adept at traveling on the ground and tend to inhabit open grassland areas more than forests.Vervets tend to dwell close to a lakes or rivers due to their need for daily water. This species is typically diurnal, being active and feeding mostly during the day. Vervets sleep in trees at night. Vervets, like many primate species, are social animals. They travel in small groups, called troops that may number only a few to as many 140 individuals. Although aggression within a troop is rare, vervets are highly territorial and often clash with surrounding troops. Unlike many other monkey species, vervets tend to have mutimale groups, with a hierarchy of the strongest males at the top. Like many primates, the vervet possess a wide range of facial gestures for communication as well as vocal calls. Males will compete for mates with a complete system of display that includes baring teeth, jaw movements and aggression. Vervets are polygamous with females typically having only a few mates in their lifetime and males possessing numerous breeding partners. Grooming is a common social behavior in this species and can be used in courtship. During the breeding season, which can be year round, the female's gentalia will swell, alerting the males when they are in heat. Dominant males will often perform a "red, white and blue" genital display to attract females; the colors referring to the males, penis, belly hair and scrotum. Gestation for this species runs approximately 175 to 200 days. Vervets are small at birth weighing only 300 to 400g (10.5 to 14 ounces). Females generally are responsible for raising the young and will often share maternal duties with other females within their social groups. The young will cling to its mother belly for roughly three weeks. Vervets reach sexual maturity at 2.5 years and live 10 to 15 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. The vervet monkey is an omnivore with a diet that includes insects, plants, and vertebrates. However, this species primarily eats fruits. As a frugivore, this species plays an important role in the ecosystem as a seed disperser. Vervet monkeys serve as prey for leopards, snakes, raptors, baboons and humans. The vervet monkey delineated from the human evolutionary lineage over 50 million years ago. However, due to their generally close biological design, this species is often used by humans as a research subject in medical and commercial studies. Vervets are considered a pest by many human inhabitants within their range. This species, in addition to possessing little fear of humans, can climb and jump well making it a major nuisance to human crops, gardens and plantations. Due to over hunting and habitat destruction, the international organization CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, has classified the vervet monkey as Appendix 2. Appendix 2 applies to species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so if not regulated. This species has been thought to have been the original host for the HIV AIDS virus. It is thought that humans first contracted a mutated form of the virus from eating undercooked or raw vervet monkeys during religious practices. Vervet-Green-Monkey.jpg Green Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus). The Vervet Monkey inhabits savanna and mountains up to 4000 m. The Vervet Monkey is mainly frugivorous, but it also supplements its diet with a variety of other foods, including leaves, seeds, insects and small rodents. It sometimes lives in groups of 20 or more, however troops are often smaller. Male skull. Makaak 38 / 77 makaak2-586x329.jpg 39 / 77 Macaca fascicularis.JPG Macaca fascicularis The crab-eating monkey is native to southeast Asia as well as Indonesia and the Philippine islands. As in most old-world primates, the crab-eating monkey has the same tooth count as humans. This species is omnivorous, eating a variety of plant parts and, as its name suggests, crustaceans and other small invertebrates. This monkey is commonly eaten by humans http://www.skullsunlimited.com/Crab-eating_Monkey.html Macaca mulatta The rhesus monkey is native to much of China as well as Afghanistan, India and Nepal. The rhesus is omnivorous and diurnal and lives freely in the forest as well as within human cities. Rhesus are a troop dwelling species with groups ranging from 5 too 100 individuals. Within its range, the rhesus monkey occupies a variety of climate types ranging from desert to snow capped mountains. Family: Cercopithecidae Click any Image for Larger View WSM-290 Natural Bone Avr. length: 10cm / 3.9"WBC-137 Macaca mulatta Macaca mulatta, female 45 / 77 Celebes-Crested-Macaque.jpg Celebes Crested Macaque (Macaca nigra). A diurnal rain forest dweller, this macaque is primarily terrestrial, spending more than 60% of its day on the ground foraging for food and socializing, but sleeping and searching for food in the trees. It lives in groups of 5 to 25 animals. COLOBUS ColubusBlackAndWhite.jpg King Colubus, or Western Black-and-White Colobus Monkey (Colobus polykomos). Found in lowland and mountain rain forests in a region stretching between Gambia and C�te d'Ivoire within Africa. It eats mainly leaves, but also fruits and flowers. Though it is arboreal, it eats primarily on the ground. It lives in small groups consisting of 3 to 4 females and 1 to 3 males, plus their young. Male skull. Colobus monkeys are native to central Africa. This species gets its name, due to their reduced thumb size, from the Greek word colobus, meaning mutilated. However, this "mutilation" allows the colobus to move more freely through the tree-tops than other African monkeys. Colobus are unique in that their digestive system allows them to eat certain leaves and unripe fruit containing toxins that most other monkeys avoid LANGOER Hanuman langur The Hanuman langur, also called the temple monkey, is found in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Feeding in troops that contain both males and females of various ages, the Hanuman langur dines primarily on leaves and other plant parts. This diurnal species sleeps in shady groves during the hot midday hours. This langur is considered sacred in parts of its range Douc-Langur.jpg Red-shanked Douc Langur (Pygothrix nemaeus). The douc is an arboreal and diurnal monkey, eating and sleeping in the trees of the forest, and is probably the most colourful of all mammals. The Redshanked Douc is thought to be found only in north and central Vietnam and Laos. Doucs are found in a variety of habitats: from lowland to mountainous terrain up to 2,000 m (6,600 feet), in deciduous, primary rainforest and secondary rainforests, in the mid to upper levels of the canopy. The Douc Langur is native to the rainforests of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia in Southeast Asia. Their Diet consists of leaves, fruit, and flowers. This brilliantly colored species is arboreal, living in the highest canopy of the forest. Due to excessive loss of habitat, over hunting, collection for the pet trade and environmental disruption attributed to the Viet Nam War, this species is now listed as endangered Purple-Faced-Langur.jpg Purple-faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus). Native to Sri Lanka. This is a long-tailed arboreal species, mainly brown with a dark facemask and paler lower face. The loud barking call, particularly of the highland form, can be mistaken for the roar of a predator such as a Leopard. This was once a common species, which was found even in suburban Colombo and in the wet zone villages, but rapid urbanization has taken a toll on the numbers of these monkeys. The Purple-faced Langur is native to the primary and secondary forests of Sri Lanka. They live a diurnal, arboreal life feeding on fruit, leaves, seeds, flowers and insects. The Brown lemur is a diurnal, arboreal species, spending most of its time in the upper canopy layers and rarely descending. The diet of the Brown lemur consists mostly of fruits, flowers, and leaves. This and four other species were recently split from the genus Lemur to create the genus Eulemur. 5 / 77 Brown-Lemur.jpg Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus). True lemurs are from 30 to 50 cm in length, with a tail that is as long or significantly longer than the body. They weigh from two to four kg. Brown Lemur Skull High Resolution Eulemur fulvus • skull Common Brown Lemur 6 / 77 Variegata rubra red ruffed lemur.JPG http://www.eskeletons.org/taxon/ruffed_lemur/boneviewer/skull/cranium.html 7 / 77 LemurRedRuffed.jpg Red-ruffed Lemur (Varecia variagata). This lemur occurs only in the rainforests of Masoala, in the northeast of Madagascar. Females are slightly larger than males. The Ruffed Lemur is the larges species of lemur. Like most lemurs, it is crepuscular, being most active in the morning and evening. The Ruffed Lemur lives an arboreal life eating mostly fruits and occasional insects. mouse lemur.JPG Mouse lemurs, from Madagascar, are the smallest primates in the world. The gray mouse lemur Microcebus murinus, has a body length less than 5 inches long. Mouse lemurs are found throughout the dry deciduous forests and spiny deserts of south and west Madagascar. The ring-tailed lemur is native only to southern Madagascar. This diurnal species eats mostly fruits, leaves and occasionally insects. The ring-tailed lemur lives in groups numbering from 5 to 25 individuals with little or no established hierarchy. In recent years, ring-tailed lemur populations have declined due to loss of habitat LemurRingtailed.jpg Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta). The Ring-tailed Lemur is a prosimian which eats mostly fruit, but will also eat leaves. It is found in the southwest of Madagascar and ranges further into highland areas than any other lemur. Lemur Cata Galago bushbabies The three species of are native to parts of Africa. Bushbabies feed on fruits, insects and small vertebrates. The bushbaby is a nocturnal primate. Their large eyes allow for more light absorbing rods, and thus, better night vision. Like an owl, the bush babies eyes are fixed in their sockets. To compensate for this, the bushbaby can rotate its head nearly 180 degrees. Bush-Baby.jpg Bush Baby (Galago senegalensis). Bush Babies have large eyes, giving them good night vision, strong hind limbs, and long tails, which help them balance. Their diet is a mixture of insects and other small animals, fruit, and tree gums TamarinGolden.jpg Golden-headed (Lion) Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas). The Golden-headed Tamarin is endemic to Brazil. It is found only in the lowland and premontane tropical forest fragments in the state of Bahia, and is considered to be an endangered species. The Golden-headed lion tamarin, named for its orange mane-like head pelage, is native to the rainforests of Brazil, South America. This small arboreal primate lives high in the canopy where it feeds on various insects and fruits. Wild populations of this species have drastically declined due to deforestation. It is estimated that as few as 200 individuals remain Cotton-topped Tamarin (Saguinius oedipus). Known as the Pinch� Tamarin, this Tamarin weighs less than 1lb (0.5 kg). It is found in tropical forest edges and secondary forests where it is arboreal and diurnal. The Cottontop Tamarin eats fruit, insects, new leaves or buds, small lizards and nectar. It is called "Liszt Monkey" in German due to its supposed resemblance to the composer Franz Liszt. Slow-LorisMale.jpg Sunda Slow Loris (Nycticebus cougang). This slow moving strepsirrhine primate has large eyes that point forward, and ears that are small and nearly hidden in the fur. Its tail is a mere stump. The Sunda Loris is a diurnal and arboreal animal that prefers the tops of the trees. Also, they have slow, deliberate movements and a powerful grasp that makes them very difficult to remove from branches. Slender lori The slender loris is a small, nocturnal primate native to the tropical rainforests of Southern India and Sri Lanka. This species is arboreal, spending most of its life in trees. The slender loris is primarily insectivorous, but will also eat slugs, leaves, flowers, eggs and nestlings. Due to habitat destruction and supposed traditional medicinal use, slender loris populations have greatly declined Perodicticus potto /Family: Lorisidae This species is native to the tropical forests of central and western Africa. The potto is a small prosimian that feeds on fruit and insects, which they locate by smell. They are primarily solitary and nocturnal sleeping in leaf nest during the day. http://www.loris-conservation.org/database/captive_care/manual/html/Taxonomy.html http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Perodicticus_potto.html Male http://svpow.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/small-african-primate-possibly-sheds-light-on-soft-tissuemorphology-of-cretaceous-diplodocoid/ http://macro.dokkyomed.ac.jp/mammal/en/species_all/perodicticus_potto.html Potto skeleton Perodicticus potto http://www.dundee.ac.uk/museum/zoology/skeletons.htm 13 / 77 Potto-skullFemale.jpg Potto (Periodictis potto). Pottos inhabit the canopy of rain forests in tropical Africa, from Guinea to Kenya and Uganda into the north of the Congo. They are nocturnal and arboreal, sleeping during the day in the leaves and almost never going on land. If threatened, a Potto will hide its face and neck-butt its opponent, making use of its unusual vertebrae. Female skull. http://www.skullsunlimited.com/userfiles/image/variants_3972.jpg INDRI The indri is a diurnal tree-dwelling species native to Madagascar. The indri is one of the largest living lemurs today, reaching weights of up to 30 pounds and lengths of 4 feet with their legs fully extended. The diet of the indri consists mostly of fruits, flowers, and leaves AYE AYE Aye Aye.JPG The aye-aye is a strange looking prosimian native to the rainforests of Madagascar. This nocturnal, arboreal species is omnivorous, feeding on a variety of fruits, seeds and insects. Aye-ayes possess rodent-like incisors used to gnaw tree bark when searching for beetle larvae. Due to habitat loss in recent years, aye-aye populations have declined drastically. It is estimated that as few as 1000 survive in the wild Aye Aye skeleton Daubentonia madagascariensis http://www.dundee.ac.uk/museum/zoology/skeletons.htm 18 / 77 Tarsier_Skeleton.jpg http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/2006/09/29/friday_know_your_primate_tarsi/ Tarsius syrichta This tiny primate is native to areas of Indonesia and the Philippines. Tarsiers are nocturnal as evidenced by their large eye sockets. The tarsiers eyesight is vital for its arboreal lifestyle and in catching prey. Tarsiers feeds on small invertebrates and occasional lizards and frogs