PRIMATES (Order PRIMATES)

2 sub-orders:

  1. HAPLORHINI (simple nosed true primates): Chacma baboon; Vervet monkey; Sykes's monkey.
  2. STREPSIHINI (turned nosed early monkeys): Bushbaby, Galagos
Characteristics of Primates:
  • flattened nails on finger tips
  • toes rather than claws
  • ability to move individual digits
  • opposing thumb and a big toe that enables objects to be gripped

BUSHBABIES and GALAGOS

  • well-developed sense of smell
  • face covered by hair
  • 3 species: Lesser Bushbaby; Grant's lesser Bushbaby, Thick-tailed Bushbaby
  • tail longer than body to keep balance
  • large eyes
  • hind legs > forelimbs for leaaping
  • can turn their head to look backwards
  • Lesser bushbay feed on gum
  • have tooth-comb
BABOONS and MONKEYS

  • same dental formula as humans and powerful jaws
  • 5 digits on fore and hind feet (1st digit opposed). Plantigrade
  • rounded head with moderately long muzzles
  • nostrils close together and point downwards
  • not able to use the tail to grasp (not prehensible)
  • can hold the same amount of food that their stomach can. When they compete for food they stuff their cheek pouches full of food and move off to a safe area to eat it in comfort.
  • they scrute food before eating to ensure that only high quality food is consumed
  • they have ischial callosities: brightly coloured and that play a role in reproductive behaviour: females have them separated in the middle by a wide space whereas callosities are fused in males.

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