Primatology is the scientific study of primates. It is a diverse and complex field that encompass many different subfields, including anthropology, evolutionary biology, zoology, ecology, and psychology.
The study of primates covers a wide range of topics including their evolution, behavior, physiology, and ecology. Primatologists use this information to better understand the unique position that humans occupy in the natural world. In recent years there have been important discoveries made about our primate cousins that have shed new light on our own origins and evolution.
There are two main types of primates: New World monkeys (from Central and South America) and Old World monkeys (from Africa and Asia). Humans are classified as an Old World monkey. The other members of this group include baboons, macaques, mandrills, langurs, colobus monkeys, proboscis monkeys, marmosets, tamarins ,and gorillas. New World monkeys include capuchins , howler monkeys , squirrel monkeys , spider monkeys ,and woolly spider monkeys . There are also lemurs from Madagascar which are sometimes considered to be a type of primate called “prosimians” although they are more closely related to lorises .
Apes are another type of primate that includes chimpanzees , bonobos , orangutans , gibbons , siamangs ,and gorillas . Apes are found in Africa and Asia but not in Central or South America. They tend to be larger than Old World or New World monkeys with longer arms and legs relative to their body size . Their skulls also have some distinct features such as forward-facing eyes , large brains relative to body size ,and nostrils that point downwards instead of sideways .
Primates first evolved around 55 million years ago during the Eocene epoch . They share a common ancestor with other mammals such as rodents , bats , carnivores , even-toed ungulates (hoofed animals),and dolphins . The earliest known fossil primate was Teilhardina brandti which lived around 55 million years ago in what is now Wyoming USA . This small animal resembled a modern day shrew or mouse and weighed less than 30 grams .
Fossils from Africa dating back to around 40 million years ago provide evidence for the next stage in primate evolution with the appearance of apes and Old World Monkeys . One example is Proconsul africanus which was an ape-like creature that weighed around 10 kgs and had long arms for climbing trees . Other examples include Afrotarsius libycus (a mouse sized primitive prosimian)and Nacholapithecus kerma (an early ape). By 25 million years ago most modern families of primates had appeared although some extinct groups such as plesiadapiformes still existed until around 10 million years ago .
During the Miocene epoch (25-5 million years ago) global climate change led to increased aridity causing forests to give way to savannahs in many parts of the world. This environmental change had a profound impact on primatology forcing many species into extinction while others adapted by evolving new traits such as longer limbs for running or Climbing To escape predators on open ground Or developing longer noses for improved smell–allowing them To locate food sources over greater distances . Some anthropologists believe these changes were critical In shaping human evolution leading To traits such As bipedalism And smaller teeth And jaws relative TO body size For scavenging meat off carcasses On The African Savannahs Millions Of Years Later Although Darwin’s Theory Of Natural Selection Provides A Good Overall Explanation For How Evolution Works There Are Still Many Questions That Remain About Specific Aspects Of Primate Evolution Such As Why Certain Traits Evolved When They Did
Today there are over 260 species of living primates distributed across the globe from cold weather climates like Tibet To hot tropical regions like Indonesia Most live In Trees And Use Their Strong Arms And Legs TO swing From branch TO branch But there Are Also Ground dwelling Species Such AS baboons THAT LIVE IN SavannasOr SnowMonkeys THAT inhabit mountainous areas IN Japan All Primates Share Certain Characteristics Such AS forward Facing Eyes That Allow FOR Depth Perception stereoscopic Vision Which Is Critical FOR Judging Distances When Jumping Between Trees All Primates Except humans Have tails Which Help Them Balance While Moving through The Trees OR clinging ONTO branches Another Important Physical Characteristic IS opposable thumbsWhich Give Primates Greater dexterity Than OTHER Mammals allowing THEM TO Grasp branches securely OR Pick Fruit AND leaves OFF TREES More Easily All Primates Eat mostly Vegetation BUT SOME ALSO CONSUME small invertebrates LIKE insects ants grubs worms etc Gorillas ARE THE largest Living Primate Males Can Weigh Up TO 350 Kgs 772 Lbs FemalesAre Much Smaller averaging 140 Kgs 309 Lbs THEY LIVE IN Troops composed OF ONE Adult Male several Adult Females THEIR Young AND Subadult Males These troops CAN HAVE Home ranges OF UP TO 15 Square Kms 5 9 Sq Miles BUT typicallyStay Within An Area OF 3 4 Square Kms 1 2 Sq Miles WHERE THEY FEED ON Leaves stems fruits roots bark Flowers AND invertebrates THEY Build nests OUT OF vegetation each night Which they Sleep IN ON THE ground OR low tree branches ChimpanzeesAre Closely RelatedTo Humans Sharing 99 PercentOf OUR dna sequenceThey Live In Communities ComprisedOF Several MalesSeveral FemalesAND their Young Adults typically disperseFROM their birth troopBUT females will stay closeTo where they were bornMales WILL travel muchfarther Forming new communitiesOr Joining existing onesChimpanzee Society Is Highly structuredWith well DefinedRoles males dominateInteractions between groupsCan Be hostileWith fightingAnd even killingAlthough Rare occurringOnly Once every FewYears adult Male ChimpanzeesWeigh Around 70 Kgs 154Lbs almost DoubleThat Of femalesWhich Are Usually 35Kgs 77 LbsThey Spend most Of Their TimeOn The Ground But climbTrees Frequently bothTo Feed On FruitsAnd leavesAs Well AS young shootsBark flowersAND insectsThey Will Also eatMeat If Given The OpportunityTheir home Ranges CoverBetween 50 100Sq Kms 20 40Sq Miles With EachGroup Having Its OwnCore Area ThatIt Defends VigorouslyAgainst IncursionsFrom Other Groups BonobosARE ONLY foundIn Congo Basin rainforestsSouthwestOf River CongoAdult Males weighAround 60kg 132lbsWhile femalesAre Slightly HeavierAt 65 kg 143lbsBonobos LiveIn Huts MadeOutOf BranchesAnd LeavesIn Groups CalledTroops ConsistingOf 15 30 individualsOn Average WithAlphas LeadingThe WayThese IntelligentAnimals CommunicateUsing A VarietyOf soundsCalls posturesGesturesAnd facial expressionsSimiliar To those usedBy humansWhen angry bonobosWill slapThe GroundLike An annoyedChild frustratedWith its toysIf given foodthey will Share itEven With Strangers