The study of primates

Introduction

Primates belong to the order Primates. Members of this order include prosimians, monkeys, apes, and humans. The primates are divided into two suborders: Prosimii and Anthropoidea. Prosimians are the more primitive members of our order, i.e., they more closely resemble the earliest primates, whereas members of Anthropoidea (i.e., monkeys and apes) are more derived, that is, they exhibit evolved characteristics not present in the ancestral primates. This project report will compare and contrast the primates from different groups (i.e about an ape and monkey only) and concludes with the personal thoughts about the project (Campbell, pp.15).

Discussion

The anthropoids of the world consist of monkeys and apes; this grouping is supported by the close genetic similarities among the anthropoid species, as well as the fossil evidence found in China in the rock strata of the mid-Eocene, which is about 45 million years old. This fossil evidence lead people to support the separation of two subgroups of primates, the prosimians and the anthropoids. However, the fossil evidence of some anthropoids is anatomically similar to the modern tarsiers, which allows science to claim that the tarsier is the most related prosimian to the anthropoids of the planet (Campbell, pp.18).

Description of monkey

The fossil record proves that 40 million years ago, both New World monkeys and Old World monkeys shared a similar genetic relative. By this time, the planet had already shifted into the current geological makeup of our modern world. The science community is still unaware of how the forming of New World monkeys occurred, but it is believed that New World monkeys evolved in the Old World and reached South America via rafting on logs. After this time, the New World monkeys of our planet evolved independently from the Old World monkeys. They now live in the tropical forests of the Western Hemisphere. New World monkeys are known as platyrrhines, a term that comes from the characterization of each species having a broad, flat nose. Due to the geographic isolation of the two groups of monkeys, they diverged in characteristics but in similar ways because of their common evolutionary ancestry (Strier, pp.22).

New World monkeys are found in Central and South America. The species are all classified under the super-family of Callitrichidae, which is broken up into two subfamilies (Callithricidae and Cebidae). Dependency on the trees as a form of protection, the adaptation of a prehensile tail, and dermal ridges on their tails have allowed these species to live for the most part without fear of predators.

The Callitrichidae includes marmosets and tamarins. Marmosets are found only in southern areas around the Amazon River. Tamarins are found only in areas north and west of the Amazon River. Marmosets inhabit most types of forests. They feed on insects and fruit. Marmosets move quadrupedally, leaping and climbing from tree to tree. This New World monkey lives in family units consisting of a mother, father, and offspring. The main anatomical differences between the two species (the marmosets and the tamarins) is the structural makeup of the lower ...