Primate Suborders

Figure 10.1: Summary of traditional primate classification.

PROSIMIANS

• Lemurs

• Lorises

• Tarsiers

Pygmy slow loris

• Nocturnal

(large eyes,

some lack

color vision)

• Grooming

claws

• Elongated snout

“dog like”

(especially in lemurs)

Mouse lemur• Moist noses(except for Tarsiers)

Locomotion: Vertical Clinging and Leaping

Bush baby (loris) Tarsier

SUBORDER ANTHROPOID(monkeys, apes, humans)

• Larger body size• Greater reliance on vision• Complex social structures• Larger, more complex brains

Infraorders:Platyrrhini CattarrhiniNew World monkeys Old world monkeys

ApesHumans

Monkeys(Old World and New World)

• True Quadrapedal locamotion

(Branch walking)

• Tails

Infraorder Platyrrhini(New World Monkeys)

Platyrrhini

• Arboreal

• Flat nose

• Claw-like nails

(in some)

Platyrrhini

• Prehensile tails

(in some)

• Partial opposability

• 2-1-3-3 dental

formula

Infraorder Catterhini(Old world monkeys, apes, humans)

dental formula: 2-1-2-3

Superfamily:

Cercopithecoidea HominoideaOld world monkeys Lesser apes

Great apesHumans

Cercopithecoidea(old world monkeys)

• Both terrestrial and arboreal

• Tails, not prehensile

Cercopithecoidea

• Fully opposable thumbs

• Legs longer than arms

Hominoidea(Apes and Humans)

• Built for brachiation/ suspensory climbing• No tails• Precise opposibility• Large body size• Expanded Neo-cortex, increased learning• Variable diet, 5Y molars

Families:

Hylobatidea Pongidae Hominidea(Lesser Apes) (Great Apes) HumansGibbons OrangatanSiamangs Gorillas

ChimpsBonobos

Hylobatidae(Lesser Apes)

• Brachiation

(suspensory

climbers)

• No tails

Lesser Apes

• Arms longer

than legs

• Arboreal

Pogidae(Great Apes)

Africa:

Gorillas, Chimps, Bonobos

Asia:

Orangatans

Locomotion:

Arms longer than legs

Knuckle walking

Semi-upright posture

Hominidae(Humans)• Bipedal stance

• No tails

• Legs longer

than arms

Hominidea • Social

• Cultural

• Precision grasp

strong thumbs

Long postnatal dependenceySlow maturation