What are primitive traits, and what is an example of a primitive trait that primates share? What are derived traits, and what is an example of a derived trait in humans? (use examples that are not in the textbook) What does it mean that primitive and derived traits are relative terms?
As the textbook states, "Primates are one of at least twenty Orders belonging to the Class Mammalia." What are the characteristics that all mammals have in common? When thinking about these mammalian traits in primates, would they be considered primitive or derived traits? Explain your answer.
What are generalized traits, and what is a specific example seen in primates? What are specialized traits, and what is a specific example seen in primates? (use examples that are not in the textbook)
Describe the following characteristics of primates (from the textbook section "Primate Suite of Traits" and the slidecast):
Vision/forward-facing eyes/postorbital bar/trichromatic and dichromatic
Brain size/visual center/neocortex
Smell and evolutionary trade-offs
Arboreal/3D environment/pentadactyly
Opposable thumbs/toes and tactile pads
Life history
Behavioral and ecological traits
What is homodont v. heterodont dentition and what type of dentition do primates have? List and describe the tooth types found in the heterodont dentition. What is meant by "dental" formula, and what is the dental formula of humans?
If a scientist found a primate jawbone, would they be able to determine if the jawbone had belonged to a male or a female primate? Explain your answer.
What do frugivores eat? Describe the characteristics of frugivorous primates. What do insectivores eat? Describe the characteristics of insectivorous primates. What do folivores eat? Describe the characteristics of folivorous primates.
List and describe the different activity patterns that are explained in your textbook. Which one would you say applies to humans and why?
Describe the different locomotor adaptations seen in primates (vertical clinging and leaping, quadrupedalism, brachiation, bipedalism). Briefly describe the skeletal adaptations associated with each of these locomotor patterns (except for bipedalism).
Explain why humans have evolved a biological craving for sugar and why this craving can be harmful in modern environments (from the article on sugar).
Sample Solution