6/6/2017 CharacteristicsofPrimates

(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/)
Recommend(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/refer/)|Contact(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/contact.html)|Search(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/search.html)
(https://www.facebook.com/civilserviceind?ref=hl) (https://twitter.com/CivilserviceInd) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4mOscHrUtOQhiyTQpFJM0Q)

Login

EmailId

password

Submit

NewMemberSignup(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/signup/signup.php)

NoticeBoard

Search

FinalResultCivilServicesExam,2016(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/results.html)

eAdmitCard:CivilServices(Prelims)Exam2017(https://www.upsconline.nic.in/eadmitcard/upsc_ac2/admitcard_csp_2017/)

PracticeEssayTopicsforMains(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Essay/suggestedreading.html#Practicewritingessays)

FictitiousFee:CivilService(Prelims)Exam.2017(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/FictFee_CSP17.pdf)

DailyCurrentAffairsQuiz(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/currentaffairs/quiz.html)

CurrentAffairs13to19,2017(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/currentaffairs/index.html)

SubscribetoCurrentAffairsNews(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subscribecurrentaffairsnews.html)

IASDiscussionForum[New](http://civilserviceindia.com/discussionforum.html)

GSNotesForCivilServices(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/GeneralStudies/notes/)

ManagementNotesForCivilServices(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Management/notes/)

PoliticalScienceNotesForCivilServices(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/PoliticalScience/notes/index.html)

AnthropologyNotesForCivilServices(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Anthropology/notes/)

CivilServicesEssayContest(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Essay/Contest.html)()

Home(../../../index.html)Subject(../../index.html)Anthropology(../index.html)Notes(index.html)CharacteristicsofPrimates
CharacteristicsofPrimates
INTRODUCTION:
Adiversegroupofanimalsrepresentedbyanimalssuchashumans,monkeys,prosimiansandapesisknownasPrimates.

SomeCommonCharacteriscs:
Dexteroushands
Ageneralizedskeletonforgreatphysicalagility
Largebrainsize
keenvision.
MostlySmalleroffspringthanotheranimals,whorequiremoreattentionintheirrearing.

Habitats:
PrimarilyinthetropicalandsubtropicalregionsoftheNewandOldWorlds.
NeverlivedinAustraliaandmostoftheislandsinthePacificOcean.
Thoughthereareevidencesthataround5550millionyearsagotheearliestprimatesalsolivedinNorthAmericaandEurope.

OldWorldmonkey
AgroupofprimateswhichbelongtothesuperfamilyCercopithecoidea.
NativetoAfricaandAsia.
Inhabitingarangeofenvironmentsfromtropicalrainforesttosavannashrublandandmountainousterrain
CercopithecinaeismainlyAfricanspecies.
ColobinaethesecondsubfamilyincludesAsiangeneraandAfricancolobusmonkeys.

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Anthropology/notes/characteristicsofprimates.html 1/5
6/6/2017 CharacteristicsofPrimates
NewWorldMonkey:
FoundinCentralandSouthAmerica.
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/)
Dividedintofoursubfamiliesofprimatesi.e.
A)Cebidae,B)Aotidae,C)PitheciidaeD)Atelidae.
DifferentnosesonNewWorldMonkeysarethemostcommonlyusedfeaturetodistinguishfromOldWorldMonkeys.

CLASSIFICATIONOFPRIMATE:

Primatesaredividedintotwosubordersie.lowerprimatesorProsimiiandthehigherprimatesorAnthropoidea.
Thisdivisionismainlybasedonthebrainsizeofboththeorders.
Brainssizesoflowerprimateshavesimilarsizetoothermammalswhilehigherprimateshavelargebrainsizerelativetobodysize.

Adsby Google

IASUPSC

Divorce&Separation
OrderprimateofclassMammaliaincludesvarioustypesofanimals.Attheoneendithasprosimianwhichmaybesmallassquirrelsandontheotherhand,haslarge
sizedanimalssuchasManandGorilla.Atboththeendsofprimatethereislotofdifferenceintermsofstructure,behaviours,andintelligence.Suchalargedifferenceis
not found in members of any other order. But still on basis of many similarities keeping all members of order primates in a single group seems logical, yet it is very
difficulttodefinethisorderbecauseofmanydifferences.

Usuallyanthropologistsavoiddefiningprimatesbecauseofobviousproblemsrelatedtotheorder.Ofthetwoimportantdefinitionsgivenforthisorder,thefirstwasgiven
byMivertabout

Yearsago,accordingtowhich:

Placentalmammals
Unguiculate(possessingnailsorclaws,asopposedtohooves)
Clavicles(collarbones)present
Orbitsencircledbybone
Threetypesofteeth,atleastatonetimeoflife
Brainalwayswithaposteriorlobeandcalcarinefissure
Innermostdigitofatleastonepairofextremitiesopposable
Hallux(bigtoe)withaflatnailornone
Awelldevelopedcaecum(appendix)
Penispendulous
Testesscrotal
Twopectoralmammae

AftercarefulstudyofthedefinitionitbecomesclearthattheseareseriallistingofcharactersofPrimatesandthesearemixturesoftwotypesofcharacters
1. General Mammalian Characters: Like three types of teeth, inceasers, canine and molars, testes in sac etc. are found in all mammals including primates and are
equallydevelopedinallprimates.
2.SpecializedcharactersofPrimates:Likeposteriorlobeofbrainandopposabilityofthumbetc.arefoundonlyinPrimatesandtheseareevolvedindifferentlevelsi.e.
suborder,genera,speciesetc.AllthesecharactersarefoundinMantoo,henceweincludemaninorderPrimate.

OrderPrimatehasbeenclassifiedintotwosubordersi.e.ProsomiiandAntropodia.Prosimiiarefurtherdividedintofourinfraordersi.e.

a.Tupaiiformes
b.Lemurifomes
c.Lorisiformes
d.Tarsiformes

PrimateslikeTupaia,Lemur,LorisandTarsiusareitsmembers.Prosomiiarecalledlowerprimatesandanthropoidsarecalledhigherprimates.

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Anthropology/notes/characteristicsofprimates.html 2/5
6/6/2017 CharacteristicsofPrimates

CharactersofProsimii
a.Forlocomotioninareboreallife,usuallytwotypesofadaptationisfound.
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/)
1.Tarsiushavinglonglegsforholdingbranchesandforjumpingfromonebranchtoanotherandmusclesdevelopedincompact.
2.Forslowquaderplasim,lemurshaveshortforelimbsandlimbsareofsamesize,mobilepelvisandtalusforswinging,tailsmallorabsent.
b.Lackofseparatemobilityoffingers,useofallofthempossible,precisiongripimpossible,toincreasethehold,gripdigitsoffigureswithpads(featureofMen)
c.Clawinplaceofnail,usuallyonsecondandthirdfingerforcleansingofthebody
d.Incomparisontoanthropoidslaterallyplacedeyes,eyeballsnotcompletelysurroundedbybones.
e.Forbetterhearinglongandmobileears.
f.Developedolfactionandorgansassociatedwithit.
g.Inmaxillaincisorsaresmallandcanineslarger,inmanyspecieslowerincisorsandcaninestogetherefficientincleaningthebody.Dentalformulausually2:1:3:3
h.ForamenMagnumcomparativelybackwardplaced
i.Cerebrumsmallinsizeandlackingincomplexity.
j.DigitalformulausuallyIV>III>V>II>I
k.Allanimalsarborealusuallynocturnal

Manycharactersoflowerprimatesresemblesmorethanothermammalsthanhigherprimates.SpecializedcharactersofprimatesarenotmuchdevelopedinProsomii,
whereas in case of anthropoids the situation is just reversed. For example opposability of thumbs is found in all anthropoids whereas in Prosomii such possibility is
marginallypresent.Similarlyinprosimiisecondandthirdfingerdigithasclawinsteadofnail.Specialized/evolvedcharactersofprimatesareseeninmenthatiswhy
manishigherprimate.OtherwisecharacterstypicalofProsomiiarenotfoundinmen.Thatiswhymencannotbeconsideredamemberofthissuborder.

PresentdayProsomiiaredescendantsofa45millionyearsoldlargeandmixedgroup,fromwhichevolutionaryofAnthropoidsseparatedabout35millionyearsago.

CharacteristicsofAnthropoids:
MembersofsuborderAnthropoidhavebeenkeptintothreesuperfamiliesi.e.Ceboidea,CercopithecoideaandHominoidea.Allthesefromevolutionarypointofvieware
major evolved than Prosomii, their brain is more complex, absence of wet mucus in the nostrils, and opposable thumb and possibility of bipedal locomotion etc. are
more.

CharacteristicsofAnthropoidareasfollows:

1.Largeandcomparativeroundcranium.
2.Reductioninprognathismandsizeofnasalcavity,Faceshowingsignofcomingrightunderfrontallobeofbrain.
3.Forfrontvisioneyesareplacednearertoeachother.
4.Facialmusclesdeveloped.
5.Fingersoffootandhandwithnails,thirdfingerlongerthanthefourthorsameasfourth.
6.Pinnasmallandmovable
7.Lachrymalcanalopensintoorbitalcavity
8.Greatercapacityforbipadelasim
9.Handsprehensile.

Manyanthropologistsclassifyanthropoidsintotwonaturalgroupsi.e.PlatyrrhiniandCatarrhini.Platyrrhini,onthebasisoftheirgeographicaldistributionareknownas
NewWorldMonkeysandCatarrhiniareknownasOldWorldMonkeyswhichincludeCercopithecoideaandHominoidea.Thoughbothofthemhaveallthecharacteristics
oftheAnthropoidsbutPlatyrrhinionthebasisofthefollowingcharacteristicscanbeseparatedfromCatarrhini.

CharacteristicsofPlatyrrhini
1.BrainmoredevelopedandcomplexedthanProsomiibutlessthanHominoids.
2.Dentalformula2,1,3,3or2,1,3,2
3.Molarsandpremolarsusuallysquarish
4.ZygomaticTemporalfossaisbigger
5.Lackofbuccalpouch
6.Lackofischiacallosities
7.Thumbnotopposableandusuallysmallorabsent
8.Longbigtoe,morestronganddistantlyplacedfromfingers
9.Longandprehensiletail

Hominoidea
FromanthropologicalpointofviewHominoideaismostinterestinggroupofthelivingprimateworld.Membersofthisgroupareconsideredasmostintelligentamongthe
entireanimalkingdom.

Amongitsthreefamiliestwo,HylobatidaeandPongidaeareapefamiliesandthirdisaHominidaethatisthefamilyofman.GibbonbelongstothefamilyofHylobatidae
andChimpanzee,GorillaandOrangutanaremembersofthefamilyPongidae.

AmongfossilhominoidsDryopithecus,RamapithecusandGigantopithecusarepongidswhereasAustralopithecus,HomoErectusandNeanderthalmanareincludedin
familyHominidae.UsuallyGibboniscalledlowerapeandchimpanzeeandGorillaarecalledhigherapes.AmongHominoids,chimpanzeeandgorillaarefoundinAfrica
whereasOrangandGibbonisfoundinsomepartsofAsia.

CharactersofHominoidea
1.Increaseinsizebutcharacteristicsdecreaseinsizeoffacialbones.
2.ChangeindentalarchfromVshapetoUshape.
3.Molarsshowingsignsofincreaseinsize
4.LowerthirdmolarhavingcharacteristicDryopithecusY5cusppattern.

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Anthropology/notes/characteristicsofprimates.html 3/5
6/6/2017 CharacteristicsofPrimates
5.Foramenmagnumandoccipitalcondyleshowingsignsofforwardmovement.
6.Neckandforelimbsarelong
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/)
7.Broadshouldersandiliacbone.
8.Moredevelopeduseofforelimbs.Hindlimbsarecomparativelylessdeveloped.
9.Lackofexternallyvisibletail

BesidesthecharactersofHominoidealisted,higherapesandmanhavemanyinterestingsimilarities.Bothhavesimilarbloodproteins.Bothliveinsmallgroupsandboth
arepronetodiseaseslikefluandsyphilis.Socanmanbeconsideredsimilartoapes?Nobecausebothofthemhavesignificantdifferences,importantofthesearelisted
here.

1.Incomparisontoapesknucklewalking,quadrupedalismandpronogradeposture,manisbipedalandorthograde.
2.Hallux/greattoemoredevelopedandnotopposable
3.Footwithcurvestodistributebodyweight
4.Foramenmagnumandoccipitalcondyleplacedlowerandforward(signofbipedalism)
5.Stereoscopicvision
6.Welldevelopedmastoidprocess.
7.Reductioninlengthoffaceandmandible,orthognathousorslightprognathousface.

BuyThese Notes in PDF

Format
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/signup/signup.php)

Copyright2017CivilServiceIndia.com
Home(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/index.html)|Disclaimer(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/disclaimer.html)|AboutUs(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/about.html)|PricingPolicy
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/pricingpolicy.html)|PrivacyPolicy(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/privacypolicy.html)|Terms&Conditions(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/termsconditions.html)
|Products(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/products.html)|Contact(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/contact.html)|SiteMap(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/sitemap.html)
WebsitebyConcernInfotechPvt.Ltd.(http://www.concerninfotech.com)

QuickLinks
IASAPPS

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.civilserviceindia.apps&hl=en) (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iasappbycivil

serviceindia/id1182872456)
EBooks
ModelEssays(BuyNow)(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/ebooks)
UnionBudget201718(BuyNow)(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/ebooks)
EMagazine(BuyNow)(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/emagazine/)
IASOnlineTestSeries
UPSCMOCKTestOnline(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/signup/onlinetest.php)
FreeTestSeriesforIAS2017(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/currentaffairs/quiz.html)
PollIstherean'atmosphereofviolence'inIndia?(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/poll/index.php)
HowToPrepareForIAS(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/howtoprepareforIASexam.html)
CurrentAffairs(http://www.news.civilserviceindia.com/)
CivilServicesNews(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/news.php)
IASExamStudyMaterial(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/studymaterial.html)
IAS&IPSGroup(http://www.thisismyindia.com/forum/sguncategorized/civilservice/170welcometocivilservicegroup)
ResultsUPSCCivilServices(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/results.html)
IASChat(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/chat.html)
ArticlesonCurrentAffairs(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/currentaffairs/articles/index.html)
SubscribeforNewsletter(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subscribe.php)
EducationalGames(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/educationalgames.html)
NewResourcesforUPSCExams(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/resources.html)
IASCoachingCentresInIndia(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/iascoaching/index.html)
ImportantInformation
EssayContest**(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Essay/Contest.html)
TipsforUPSCInterview**(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/interview.html)
EarnWithUs(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/EarnWithUs.html)
AboutCivilServices(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/aboutcivilservices.html)
CivilServicesExamSchedule20162017(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/upscexaminationtimetable.html)

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Anthropology/notes/characteristicsofprimates.html 4/5
6/6/2017 CharacteristicsofPrimates
IASSubjectResources(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/index.html)
MainsSyllabus(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/mainsyllabus.html)
PreliminarySyllabus(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/preliminarysyllabus.html)
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/)
QuestionPapers(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/questionpapers.html)
Strategy(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/strategy.html)
SuggestedBooks(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/suggestedreading.html)
FreeIASCoaching(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/specialcoachingclasses/index.html)
Scholarship(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/scholarship.html)
IASLinkResources(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/resources.html)
StudyTogetherforUPSCExams(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/studytogether/index.html)
CivilServicesBookCenter(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/bookcenter/index.html)
FreeNCERTBooks(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/GeneralStudies/freebooks/index.html)
FreeHistoryNotes(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/History/prelims/index.html)
FreeLawNotes(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Law/notes/index.html)
FreeManagementNotes**(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Management/notes/index.html)
CivilServiceFAQ(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/faq.html)
OtherUPSCExams(http://www.coachingindians.com/upscexam/index.html)
KPSCExamination**(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/KPSCExams/)
Disclaimer(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/disclaimer.html)
AboutUs(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/about.html)

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Anthropology/notes/characteristicsofprimates.html 5/5