Increased attention to the primate olfactory system in the last decade has revealed that chemosensation is far more important in primates than previously thought, even in those species with better vision (Drea, 2014). Chemical signals have been generally recognized to be involved in the regulation of primate social and reproductive behavior. (Aujud, 1997) Odor cues have an enormous benefit over visual or auditory cues in that they can transmit information in the signaler’s absence. Chemical cues vary enormously in their complexity. Many organisms can produce precise signals that single compounds or specific blends act much like “releasers” or “primers” that elicit a particular biological response. Some organisms can produce complex chemical …show more content…
The combination of these two adaptations allows strepsirrhines to use olfactory signals extensively, from the scent marking of resources. (Semple & Higham, 2013). The lesser mouse lemur is a vital example of how social communication relying primarily on chemical cues, such as urinary cues actively dispersed by scent marking. Olfactory cues from urine affect reproductive function in both sexes and chemocommunication is involved in regulating socio-sexual behavior. The chemosensory structures compose about 2.6% of cerebral mass in this speicies (Aujard, …show more content…
Marking behavior have been shown to either be reduced or unchanged after lesions of olfactory bulbs or of vomeronasal organ, but these lesions always induced deficits in chemosensory investigations such as sniffing or licking behaviors. Most biochemical responses to chemical cues are suppressed by bulbectomy or vomeronasal organectomy, Previous studies show how the removal of the VNO decreases male sexual behaviors, including anogenital sniffing, vocalizations, mounts and copulations, but only if VNO removal was prior to sexual experience. Removal also reduced or eliminated intermale aggression and inhibited infanticidal behaviors in males. Males deprived of the main olfactory system as a result of olfactory bulbectomy do not compete for priority access to receptive females and exhibit reduced frequency of aggressive behavior and reduced testosterone levels. (Aujard,
That familiar fizzing you hear when you drop an Alka Seltzer tablet into a glass of water is the result of a chemical reaction, and chemical reactions are extremely prevalent when it comes to what living things do to carry out life processes. In addition, environmental conditions can alter the results of chemical reactions, and in this lab, we will be answering the
4. Due to lack of facial Muscles they cannot make facial changes that other primates use to communicate.
All primates have the same sensation and are capable of receiving excessive amounts of information. All senses, sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch are essential to the development, survival, and overall well-being of living primates. It is fascinating how non-human primates, without language, can communicate in the same ways as human primates, with language. Non-human primates and human primates are highly developed mammals that possess many of the same communicative characteristics, but still differ greatly. Non-human primates fit into the category of not having language, but being able to communicate.
Unusually heard sounds can be scary and frightening. Creepy sounds can make the stories more suspenseful because they make it to were you want to know what happens next. This is because if you like the character you do not want anything to happen to them so you want to keep reading so that you know what happens to them. Sounds that are not usually heard such as a heart beating or other scary sounds like the death groan from "The Tell-Tale Heart" or the amount of panting and shuffling from the dead son from "The Monkey's Paw" help with the suspense because it makes it to where you know something bad is going to happen.
Psychophysiological stimulation can affect the apocrine, eccrine, and sebaceous glands altering body odor and the ways others perceive us. The apocrine glands are the source of human pheromones activated by emotions. This explains why there is a higher correlation of correct assessments between adults of the opposite sex due to pheromones not being active before puberty. Association ability originates early in human development and plays a major role in social interactions such as: the i...
It has been believed that culture is unique to humans and no other groups of animals have culture, but recent evidence refutes this ideology. Before getting into the meat of the argument, it is important to first address the issues regarding the ambiguity of the term, “culture.” What is culture? Many scientists may argue that culture is the way of life for a group of individuals, this definition includes the values, beliefs and traditions of the group (Sapolsky, 2006). Other scientists may argue that culture is the transmission of habits and information by social means (Sapolsky, 2006). Despite the different specifics of what culture is, almost all scientists would agree that culture is transmitted socially through social learning that promotes the transfer of information between members in a group (Boesch and Tomasello, 1998). Based on these notions of culture, it can be justifiably stated that primates have culture. Primates exhibit food preparation techniques, use of tools, communication skills, and most importantly, behaviors of social learning. An exemplar of primates’ capabilities for culture is Koko, the lowland gorilla. Koko, in captivity, was able to learn American sign language, demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to deceive.
Despite the fact laboratory studies are vital in order to acquire useful information about culture in primates, it also places the primates in a stricter, unnatural, or unusual location for animals, therefore not allowing them to show their full potential as they do in the wild (Uehara, 2004, p. 108). Cultural behavior in tools (kin based culture) The primate’s intelligence is extraordinary considering how they connect with their environment to survive in everyday life. The ability to learn to use tools to improve the primate’s life is an example of culture and how they survive.
Apes, gibbons, monkeys, tarsiers, lemurs, and lorises make up the diverse and beautiful world of primates. We humans are primates, and there are more 300 species of primates in the world. The smallest primate is the pygmy mouse lemur, which can fit in the palm of your hand. The largest—the gorilla—can weigh more than 400 pounds. Almost every primate species is endangered, and the overhunting and forest devastation has brought some species to within a few dozen heads of final extinction.
Primates have long been understood to have a distinct connection with other animals of its kind, perhaps one of the reasons why their behavior has been most often than not closely related to how humans interact in social groups. However, between different emerging species, it could be analyzed how competition becomes a vital part of the connection they share between each other. This is the reason why it was easier to preserve species of different kinds of primates even within the same locations of habitat. Cross-breeding was not that common among primates due to being highly territorial in nature. Male primates often direct their groups specifically having a distinct distance from other types of other primates. This is why preserving intact social groups among monkeys have been a distinct characteristic of the animal, giving them a greater chance of propagating and preserving their own groups surviving within a specific habitat. When instances of environmental imbalance occurs, primates often move as groups, hence bringing their whole clan and community along with them as they follow their leaders find viable locations to become their new home.
I will conclude this paper by discussing some of the behavioral traits that have been thought to correlate with differing degrees of sexual dimorphism and their plausibility. Anatomical Structures Used to Study Human Sexual Dimorphism To discuss sexual dimorphism, one must first define the term. Webster’s Dictionary defines sexual dimorphism as “the condition in which differences i... ... middle of paper ... ...
What makes a human a primate? A primate is defined by its many incredible features. A primate is a mammal that has certain characteristics such as: flexible fingers and toes, opposable thumbs, flatter face than other mammals, eyes that face forward and spaced close together, large and complex cerebrum, and social animals. What makes a primate a primate is its characteristics. Some of the physical features that primates can be identified by is by their teeth, snouts, eyes, ears, arms, legs, fingers, and their toes. One of the main things that categorizes a human has a primate is selective pressure, the second main thing is having similar features and characteristics. But both humans and non-humans have differences even though they are both primates.
Pheromones are natural scents, which play an important role in sexual communication. Animals and humans release masses of biological chemicals in tears, saliva and perspiration. These aromas convey signals relating to mood, status, drive and health to the subconscious awareness of the female. The dominant male will exude more of these biological attractants than his submissive counterpart, consequently he inevitably attracts more females and enjoys more conquests. This philosophy holds well in the animal world, pheromones are consciously detected over considerable distances and serve at times in place of spoken communication. They help animals mark territory, recognize mates, and signal sexual interest. For example, female dogs in heat leave their pheromone and can attract male dogs over a mile away (5).
Chimpanzees (Figure 1) are the closest living relatives to us, and they share 99 percent of our DNA (1). Chimpanzees have distinct group territoriality. Male chimpanzees “patrol” near the boundary between the two ranges, at that time they move very carefully and quietly, and they can cease to listen and observe the range of their neighbors. Patrolling individuals are likely to face cruel and violent attacks, injuries, and even deaths. Intense excitement and aggressive display can occur if the two parties of two communities encounter each other. Usually, the larger group holds its ground, and interaction between different chimpanzees communities may also lead to gang attack. Expanding the community range is necessary to their social organizations, the males cooperation can defend the territory and increase the reproductive rates of the resident females by excluding female and male competitors. Body contact is common in their social life such as grooming (1). Usually, chimpanzees groom each other as a way to show harmony and solidarity in their society (Figure 2). Grooming each other demonstrates the deep bonds and close relationship between them. In addition, they can even hug, hold hands, touch, kiss each other as a way of emotional expression (2).
Other areas that are sometimes activated include: the amydgala (Stoléru et al., 2011); the claustrum (Arnow et al., 2002; Stoléru et al., 2011); the orbitofrontal cortex (Stoléru et al., 2011); the hypothalamus (Redouté et al., 2002; Stoléru et al., 2011); the insula (Arnow et al., 2002; Moulier et al., 2006; Stoléru et al., 2011); the ventral striatum (Redouté et al., 2000; Stoléru et al., 2011); the cerebellum (Aalto et al., 2002; Ivry & Fiez, 2000; Stoléru et al., 2011). These areas are only a few of the many areas that are activated in response to sexual stimuli, and they activate for a variety of reasons and in response to various aspects of the stimuli.
Along with these interesting facts, scientists have discovered the giraffe’s different techniques for communication. Chemical communication is a powerful tool, particularly for ensuring reproduction, marking territory, and alerting prey against predators. A male giraffe, for instance, determines the best time to mate by nudging the female until she urinates and then checking the odor to determine if she is fertile. Communication is important among giraffes because it helps them to gather for good, care for their young, and mate. Most commonly, animal communication occurs between animals of the same species.