Comparative Primate Trait

Comparison, the expression of dentition patterns:

Lemurs (Prosimians/Strepsirhini):

Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Infraorder: Lemuriformes
Superfamily: Lemuroidea
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Lemur
Species: L. catta

a. A thorough description of the environment in which the primates lives.  

Lemurs live on the isolated Madagascar island where they have no competition with larger primates.  Lemurs are usually nocturnal, insectivorous primates that lead solitary lives.  They have a smallish body, large eyes, long bushy tails, and a long nose.  Their habitat is endangered by habitat destruction and deforestation.  Lemurs that operate during the day tend to be larger and less reclusive.

b. A description of your specified character trait for that primate.

Lemurs have specialized teeth on their lower jaw that aides in grooming.

c. A discussion on how the primate’s trait expression has been influenced by its environment, i.e., how can the trait be viewed as an adaptation to the primate’s environment.

Lemurs may also use these teeth for eating native insects and leaves.

Spider Monkey (New World Monkey/Platyrrhini):

Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Atelidae
Subfamily: Atelinae
Genus: Ateles

a. A thorough description of the environment in which the primates lives.

Spider Monkeys make their home in South and Central America’s tropical rain forests.  They have prehensile tails, tiny bodies,  and long arms for life among the trees, though oddly, they have no thumbs.  They are social and work together in small groups foraging for food.  Spider Monkeys are threatened by logging, human encroachment, and deforestation.

b. A description of your specified character trait for that primate.  

Spider monkeys have fewer teeth than other primates (only 32) and many species have two large teeth that jut out. 

c. A discussion on how the primate’s trait expression has been influenced by its environment, i.e., how can the trait be viewed as an adaptation to the primate’s environment.  

These frontal teeth help them bore holes.

Baboon (Old World Monkey/Cercopithecidae) :

Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
Family: Cercopithecidae
Subfamily: Cercopithecinae
Genus: Papio
Species: P. Anubis

a. A thorough description of the environment in which the primates lives.

Baboons live in East Africa among the savannah’s and woodlands.  They are social and enjoy grooming.  Their communities consist of about 50 individuals.  Baboons are omnivores, eating things like berries, seeds, leaves, roots, insects, fish, and even bark.  The main threat to Baboons, besides cheetahs and leopards, are Humans.

b. A description of your specified character trait for that primate.

Baboons have two prominent large canine teeth that jut out of their long muzzle.

c. A discussion on how the primate’s trait expression has been influenced by its environment, i.e., how can the trait be viewed as an adaptation to the primate’s environment.

These teeth help them eat a variety of foods that otherwise would be difficult for them to eat and they also serve as a formidable aid to help them defend themselves.

Gibbon (Lesser ape/Hylobatidae):

Suborder Haplorrhini

Infraorder Simiiformes

Superfamily Hominoidea

Family Hylobatidae

Genus Hylobates

a. A thorough description of the environment in which the primates lives.

Gibbons are arboreal apes dwelling in Asian rainforests.  They are known for their agility.  They have small bodies.  They live in small families.  They are endangered, mostly due to humans partaking in illegal wildlife trade practices and deforestation.

b. A description of your specified character trait for that primate.  

Gibbons have relatively large canines and high cusped teeth in the back of  their mouths.

c. A discussion on how the primate’s trait expression has been influenced by its environment, i.e., how can the trait be viewed as an adaptation to the primate’s environment.  

Their teeth are well adapted to grinding plant matter and for eating a folivoruous diet which they prefer.

Chimpanzee (Great ape/Hominidae) :

Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Pan
Species: P. troglodytes

a. A thorough description of the environment in which the primates lives.  

Chimpanzees are arguably the most Human-like of the primates and some argue that they should be a part of the same genus as Humans.  Chimpanzees have no tail, prominent ears, pale faces, and white beards.  They are arboreal and terrestrial.  They are native to the equatorial region of Africa.  They eat mostly fruit, along with leaves, seeds, blossoms, and bark.

b. A description of your specified character trait for that primate.  

Chimpanzees have robust canines, though not as large as other primates, but definitely larger than those found in Humans.

c. A discussion on how the primate’s trait expression has been influenced by its environment, i.e., how can the trait be viewed as an adaptation to the primate’s environment.

Male Chimpanzees have even larger teeth, which they use in fighting other males or predators.

Summery: It seems that the primary influence on primate dentition has to do with what kind of diet these animals maintain.  In addition their teeth aid them in fighting off predators or other attackers.  Most primates have large or exaggerated canines, which they use resourcefully to break apart fruits, seeds, and tree barks.  Primates with the greatest danger from predators seem to have the largest teeth, like Baboons.

Image Sources:

http://www.erectus.it/me-thought.html

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/spider-monkey/

http://www.educationalbiofacts.com/educational-skulls-replica-mammals-primates-gibbons-apes-monkeys-baboons.html

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=20756

http://true-wildlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/baboon.html

http://www.connecticutvalleybiological.com/gibbon-skull-hylobates-agilis-p-13881.html

http://www.zoonar.com/photo/weisswangengibbon-hylobates-concolor-leucogenys-whitecheeked-gibbon_432539.html

http://media.photobucket.com/image/chimpanzee+teeth+/emoxian/showing-his-teeth-and-toungue-chimpanzee-pictures-1600x1200.jpg

Research Sources:

http://www.wildmadagascar.org/wildlife/lemurs.html

http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ring-tailed_lemur

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/spider-monkey/

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/baboon-info.htm

http://www.gibboncenter.org/about_gibbons.htm

http://www.zooschool.ecsd.net/white%20handed%20gibbon.htm