primates

1707 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Evolution of primate locomotion

Viewing and observing primates at the zoo and using them as a research subject is crucial to help with the understanding of how humans came to be. Since humans and primates are onwards of 95% genetically similar (Why are Humans Primates), observing them is a great tool to better understand humans and the relationship we share with primates. Though some research done on primates has questioned the morality of such a thing, by not observing our closest ancestors, we would not have many of the answers about humans that we have today. Non-human primates can teach us many things about ourselves, from evolution,to behavioral and social characteristics. Apes, like humans, are catarrhines and part of the superfamily hominoidea. Apes started to appear in the Miocene about 20 million years ago(lecture notes, week 10), under this category there are many primates that are distinguished as apes, such as, orangutans, gibbons, chimpanzees, and gorillas. These particular primates are from the old world and are native to Africa and Asia. Apes can be distinguished by the foramen magnum towards the back of the skull, having no tail, and having a hook nose (Larsen 2013, p. 150). Another characteristic of apes is that they have large brains for their body size, this is important because it shows they have a higher intelligence than other animals, and this can be connected to the relationship shared with humans. Bonobos and gorillas are often found socializing in groups but orangutans are more solitary primates usually keeping to just the children they have (Absolutely Apes). Most scientists believe that bonobos are the most intelligent of the primates(Absolutely Apes). They share many of the behaviors us humans do day to day, like teaching... ... middle of paper ... ...produce palm oil (zoo sign). So the zoo actually saves these animals’ lives and gets the word out to help protect them. All in all, learning about primates then getting to observe them is very interesting. I got to match the primate’s behaviors written in a book with how they act in person, and see for myself if it was what I expected. Observing them is far more fun than just reading about them, for example while I was sitting with the orangutans there was not a minute that went by where I wasn't smiling or laughing at what each individual ape was doing. Actually seeing certain primates interact with each other whether it be grooming, hugging,or playing, put into perspective just how much they act like humans. By observing and doing research, this will better our understanding between the differences and similarities of non-human primates and ourselves as humans.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Common Ground By Barbara Smuts

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    The idea that humans could possibly have evolved from apes was thought impossible until about 150 years. Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and geologist, best known for his contribution to evolutionary theory, stated “humans evolved from an apelike ancestor” (1). Still after Darwin’s theories, many people still doubted the chances of this being true. Just in the past decade have scientists reached a general agreement about the evolutionary relationships between humans and apes. DNA evidence indicates that chimps and bonobos are more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas! Technically humans are a kind of great ape, and that is why throughout the article Smuts will refer to apes as forest apes.

    Read More

  • Tool-use in Chimpanzees

    1762 Words  | 4 Pages

    Tanya Lewis Staff Writer. Chimps Learn Tool Use by Watching Others. 30 January 2013. Report. 25 April 2014. .

    Read More

  • The Primate Mother-Infant Bond

    1810 Words  | 4 Pages

    Harms, William. "Professor Finds That Nonhuman Primates Have Evolutionary Reason to Bond with Their Offspring." Professor Finds That Nonhuman Primates Have Evolutionary Reason to Bond with Their Offspring. The University of Chicago Chronicle, 12 July 2001. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Robert Sapolsky: The Uniqueness Of Humans And Other Primates

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his lecture, primatologist Robert Sapolsky explains the uniqueness of humans as well as our similarities to other primates. In doing so, he broke it down into six points of interest: aggression, theory of mind, the golden rule, empathy, pleasure in anticipation and gratification postponement, and lastly, culture. Professor Sapolsky approaches each point with interesting fact-based examples thus allowing me to gain insight on humans and other primates. Sapolsky’s knowledge of primates along with his scientific background allows him to make a clear argument that one cannot simply ignore.

    Read More

  • Non Human Primates Essay

    1325 Words  | 3 Pages

    Quiatt, D., & Reynolds, V. (1993). Primate behaviour: information, social knowledge, and the evolution of culture. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press].

    Read More

  • Harry Harlow Experiment: Experiment

    796 Words  | 2 Pages

    Harlow observed the monkeys all during their life including the growing up stage from adolescent to adult see what kind of vibes they’ll give of in social environment as adults. Harlow noticed that monkeys had very odd behavior. They didn’t demonstrate any normal breeding activities, and many of the females did breed became very poor mothers and did not try to take care or even protect their offspring.

    Read More

  • Primate Culture

    1444 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Humans and Chimpanzees

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chimpanzees portray their emotions through a number of facial expressions and mannerisms. Just like humans, they undergo mood swings, jealous rages, and laughter. For instance, Goodall observed during her research that a male gorilla “would threaten [me] with an upward and backward movement jerk of his head…” Some of their emotions are easy to read, while at other times we have to look at multiple places on their faces to understand their feelings. A chimpanzee also uses its facial expressions and sounds to communicate with each other, such as hoots and yells.

    Read More

  • Neanderthals

    1506 Words  | 4 Pages

    Most of their evidence comes from the fossilized bones of Neanderthals and Cro- Magnons, or modern man’s ancestors (Shreeve, 150). There is a definite difference between their bone structures, and it may be a significant enough difference to divide them into species. There is a set of traits that distinguishes Neanderthals. Their general proportions are short, robust, and strong. Males and females of all ages have thick bones, and very pronounced muscle and ligament attachment sites. They also have distinct facial and cranial features. They have a large skull with no chin, a significant brow-ridge, and a large nasal opening (Shreeve, 49-150). They have large brains, around 1400cc, that protrude in the back, causing an occipital bun in the skull (Lecture, 4/19). Cro-Magnons on the other hand look more like humans do today. They are more slender and not as muscular, with chins and rounder skulls with slightly smaller brains among other traits.

    Read More

  • Orangutans

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    flanges in the Boreal male curve out ward from the face and develop around the

    Read More

  • monkeys

    497 Words  | 1 Pages

    The pet store was selling them for 5¢ a piece. I thought that odd since they were normally a couple thousand each. I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. I bought 200. I like monkeys. I took my 200 monkeys home. I have a big car. I let one drive. His name was Sigmund. He was retarded. In fact, none of them were really bright. They kept punching themselves in their genitals. I laughed. Then they punched my genitals. I stopped laughing. I herded them into my room. They didn't adapt very well to their new environment. They would screech, hurl themselves off of the couch at high speeds and slam into the wall.Although humorous at first, the spectacle lost its novelty halfway into its third hour. Two hours later I found out why all the monkeys were so inexpensive: they all died. No apparent reason. They all just sorta' dropped dead. Kinda' like when you buy a goldfish and it dies five hours later. Damn cheap monkeys. I didn't know what to do. There were 200 dead monkeys lying all over my room, on the bed, in the dresser, hanging from my bookcase. It looked like I had 200 throw rugs. I tried to flush one down the toilet. It didn't work. It got stuck. Then I had one dead, wet monkey and 199 dead, dry monkeys. I tried pretending that they were just stuffed animals. That worked for a while, that is until they began to decompose. It started to smell real bad. I had to pee but there was a dead monkey in the toilet and I didn't want to call the plumber. I was embarrassed.I tried to slow down the decomposition by freezing them. Unfortunately there was only enough room for two monkeys at a time so I had to change them every 30 seconds. I also had to eat all the food in the freezer so it didn't all go bad. I tried burning them. Little did I know my bed was flammable. I had to extinguish the fire. Then I had one dead, wet monkey in my toilet, two dead, frozen monkeys in my freezer, and 197 dead, charred monkeys in a pile on my bed. The odor wasn't improving. I became agitated at my inability to dispose of my monkeys and to use the bathroom.

    Read More

  • Primate Intelligence: Apes

    1577 Words  | 4 Pages

    Monkey see, monkey do. Apes have always been thought to have an increased level of intelligence. Over the years, researchers have attempted to understand the degree of intelligence these primates possess. However, it is essential to understand the definition of intelligence in order to determine the amount of intelligence primates have. Intelligence is the capability of obtaining knowledge and being able to utilize it in everyday situations. There are many hypotheses that focus on the evolution of intelligence in primates that view a number of factors including brain size and modernism. Primate intelligence has been a topic of interest to many because it will allow us to further understand the close relationship between humans and primates. Additionally, we will be able to understand the difference between human and primate cognition. Some studies suggest that the human and primate brains possess many similarities. This demonstrates why primates tend to respond to stimuli in a manner that is closely related to humans. Researchers have conducted a number of studies in an effort to understand primate cognition.

    Read More

  • Jungle Monkeys

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    The monkeys of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book are a very unique group of characters. They are viewed by the other animals of the jungle, or the Jungle People as they call themselves, as outcasts and outlaws. The most prominent chapter they occur in, “Kaa’s Hunting”, shows their lawless, shiftless, and uncivilized way of life. This image in itself does not give off any racist undertone. However, Disney’s adaption of The Jungle Book carries this view of the monkeys, while also giving them strong attributes that are commonly associated with African-Americans.

    Read More

  • Pan Troglodytes

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    The apes have been extensively studied for their learning abilities. There may even be distinctive cultures within populations. Field studies of the apes were pioneered by primatologist Jane Goodall. Both chimpanzee species are considered to be Endangered. Human activities have caused severe declines in the populations and ranges of both species. Threats to wild chimp populations include poaching, habitat destruction, and the illegal pet trade. Several conservation and rehabilitation organisations are dedicated to the survival of orangutans in the

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Human Evolution

    1438 Words  | 3 Pages

    Using the “Linnaean system of classifying organisms, people and apes are common members of the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Primates, suborder (or infraorder) Anthropoidea, and superfamily Hominoidea” (Tuttle 15). Imagine going to the zoo and seeing chimpanzees for the first time. One may notice things such as similar hands with opposable thumbs, the ability the walk on two legs and even the face itself. Watching different shows on the Discover Channel or even Animal Planet images of chimpanzees and primates living together in rich social groups with its own hierarchy. Much like humans in our cliques and with our hierarchy. Going back to Linnaean system were in the same animal kingdom as which brings me to the genetic attributes that we share. “The amount of difference in DNA is a test of the difference between one species and another – and thus how closely or distantly related they are… While the genetic difference between individual humans today is minuscule – about 0.1%, on average – study of the same aspects of the chimpanzee genome indicates a difference of about 1.2%” (http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics). A one percent difference is a stones

    Read More

More about primates

Open Document