Primate Behavior

Primates are one of the most interesting mammals on earth, not only because of their complex social structures, but because they hold so many similar characteristics to humans. Primates are often cited as our closest living relatives and on two separate occasions I observed four separate species of primates at the San Diego Zoo that can justify their use of their physical characteristics and behaviors that may be similar as well as different to the other primates and ours.

Anthropologists over time recognized several physical and behavioral traits that connect humans to other primates, but can primates learn to manipulate tools, imitate, cooperate, communicate, and reason somewhat like humans? By studying the various characteristics of primate behavior among their various societies, many scientists are able to induce a stronger understanding of human relations among primates and further our knowledge and understandings about evolution. The existence or nonexistence of cultural patterns in subhuman primates may best be determined by observations amongst different primate groups in their natural habitats. “culture is dependent upon the ability of an animal within a social group to acquire from another group member

Within this essay, we will study more in depth the behavioral as well as physical traits of two primates at a zoo from their interaction with their peers to their place in the group. This observation would enable us to further understand the possible existing correlation between humans and primates. First, I studied a female chimpanzee with her baby, and then, a dominant male gorilla, in San Francisco Zoo at about noon, on May 23, 2015, for an hour each. Even though they share some similarities such as having a large brain, living for a long time, and being bored in their enclosure, they are still different; when gorillas are the largest, chimpanzees are the smartest. In fact, chimps use tools to catch food, they would not be able to reach

I have really enjoyed learning in this class and glad I took it because I found it to be very interesting. From learning all these different types of primates, from non-human to human primates, to even developing a better understanding of the evolution of primates and primate behavior. For my final paper, I will be going over and portraying the behavior of non-human primate and human primate. I will be comparing the primates behavior seen over the movies and literatures that we were assigned, to the understandings of evolution. Being able to learn and compare the behavior of non-human primate and the behavior of human primate, it can help further one understandings of how we are similar in physical and biological structures. According to the Wikipedia, “The primate lineage is thought to go back at least 65 million years ago”. (Wikipedia) With this one could say that the evolution of primates have been evolving for quite a while now, and even if we do not look like a non human primate we are similar than we think. The reading materials and the movies we had to watch for this class displayed the behaviors of non-human primate and human primate, some how differed. There are many question about evolution, and to how we were created? are there other reasons deeper than evolution? How much can we learn about evolution by just comparing the different behavior of the primates?

Non human primates’ social organization can provide useful information how human social evolution occurs. We will go over main points of how similar and different non human primates such as chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas’ society are compared to ours, humans.

     I think that if culture is defined as learned behavior, than it is reasonable to say that primates posses a form of culture. Primates have been observed making tools to aid in collecting food and developing communication system, both of which are learned behaviors.

Play is expressed as being one of the most sophisticated forms of primate-to-primate interaction (Demaru et al. 2015). During play, the main form of emotional communication is through facial expression (Demaru et al. 2015). In humans, facial expressions are a universal display of non-verbal communication, and they are immediately read and responded to by conspecifics that bear witness to them (Cattaneo & Pavesi 2014). Play faces (PF) – an open mouth, or an open mouth with teeth showing- are used to signal the want to play and are influenced by characteristics of the play interaction (Demaru et al. 2015). For instance, aggressive behavior during play can influence the PF (Demaru et al. 2015).

During my research of Orangutans and Mandrills I observed them in captivity at the San Diego Zoo. My observations included a 20 minute observation of each primate as it cohabitated with other Primates and with other members of its own species. My findings will support the research of Orangutans and Mandrills through firsthand observations.

On the other side of the controversy is that human are not naturally violent, but the environment and the way a person is raised causes the person to become violent. It is not just the biological aspects that makes a person violent, but it could be that the chimpanzees are close to becoming humans than what we thought they were.

Climbing, when it comes to the observed non-human primates, is used as a way of exercise as well as encouraging a sense of security and survival. Climbing the trees expends energy in the monkeys, often leaping between branches and trees at whim. Beyond this, climbing allows the monkeys to get adjusted and familiar with their surroundings as well as giving them a decent vantage point to see potential predators or prey. With humans, however, climbing serves other purposes. Humans utilize climbing for a number of reasons that are, in the grand scheme of things, very rarely survival.

The orangutans differ in hand size, Herald had much larger hands than my own and Taylor’s hand size was around the same size as mine. Their hands display the thickness of the fingers and knuckles, which is more likely explained by their fist walking attributes.

Orangutan was the primate I decided to select for this primate observation. The monkey was enclosed in a large cage with two other monkeys (same species). It seem to be comfortable and unbothered of its surroundings. The monkey was just sitting observing everything around them, for example us the visitors. These primates are known to be unique thinkers. They are very quiet than other primates, patient, and problem solvers. The staff from the Los Angeles Zoo, provides a variety of enrichment through diet, I noticed a staff giving the monkeys vegetables: carrots, lettuce, and other that I didn’t quite notice. Being able to observe the lives of the Orangutans enclosed in the zoo, are very different

One of the main reasons why we are so interested in the other primates is that by looking at them we can obtain some ideas of what our ancestor must have been like a few millions years ago. Even though, we are not descended from any modern-type monkey or ape, our lineage does appear to have gone through stages in which we were a medium-sized, reasonably intelligent creature with good binocular vision, hands that were good at manipulation and the ability to climb trees. An evolutionary trend in primates involves the development of offspring both before and after birth and their integration into complex social systems. Another trend in primate evolution has been toward a more elaborate brain. In addition to brain size and gestation periods,

The genus Tarsius of which we have fossils from the Middle Eocene in China, the Early Miocene in northwestern Thailand, and the Middle Miocene in northern Thailand, allow us to compare ancient characters with many modern extant tarsiers. Tarsiers are subject to high levels of predation as they inhabit a specific biotope and are subject to avian predators as well as ground dwelling species (Řeháková-Petru, Peške, and Daněk 2012).

I watched several documentaries which allowed me to observe different species of primates living in their natural habitats. I took notes of what I saw and researched information on the species to fully understand the meaning of each discernable behavior. The first documentary that I watched was made by KPBS San Diego and allowed me to observe a community of Bonobos living in their natural habitat in Congo. Second documentary that I watched was a BBC documentary which allowed me to observe a small community of Chimpanzees living in Uganda. I then watched a second BBC documentary in which observed Crested Black Macaques in their natural habitat, the Timbuktu Rainforest I could observe and take notes. I then reviewed the documentaries whiles listening to the observer’s comments. During my observations, I witnessed many different primate activities such as social grooming, the use of tools, and hunting. I was also able to identify several different primate behaviors and social structures. Additionally, watching different species of primate allowed me to identify their similarities and differences. Moreover, I was also able to recognize similarities between them and us, humans.