Figure 14.33: Tool using in a primate. A chimpanzee uses a stick to “fish” for termites, and
then, pictured here, extracts the insects. ( 16 )
because they generally share more than 97% of their DNA with each other, and exhibit a
capacity for language or for simple culture beyond the family or band, a group of animals
functioning together. A proposed theory including such faculties as empathy is a controver-
sial criterion distinguishing the adult human alone among the hominids. Can you think of
other human attributes that are unique to humans?
Lesson Summary
- Primates are characterized by pentadactyly, a generalized dental pattern, a nonspe-
cialized body plan and certain eye orbit features. Primates also have opposable thumbs
and a large cerebrum relative to the rest of the brain. - Old World species tend to have significant sexual dimorphism, whereas New World
species generally do not show significant sexual differences. - Many primates live in a variety of forested habitats, whereas others are partially ter-
restrial, and some, like the gelada and humans, are fully terrestrial. A few species are
adapted for living in aquatic habitats. - There are three subgroups within the primates order: prosimians, including the lemurs;
New World monkeys, and the Old World monkeys and the apes. There are estimated
to be somewhere between 350 to 405 species of primates. - The great apes, consisting of seven species, are large, tailless primates, with sexual
dimorphism. Most species are quadrupedal, but all are able to use their hands. - Most great apes are omnivorous, but fruit is the preferred food among all species but