The Spectral Tarsier, A Primate Of The Tarsiidae Family

The time interval that I analyzed this animal was from 11:30am to 11:50am and this monkey actually had a very active behavior and it was really a good experience to observe this monkey. The immediate physical description I was able to analyze from this primate was that it was black with a very long tail that later I was able to find out that it was actually a prehensile tail. The common behavior in this one was much walking and sitting during my analyzation. It was interesting to see the locomotion of this animal because I was able to see that it was both Quadrupedal and Bipedal. From the knowledge I have gotten from this class I know having that is a great advantage especially for the fact that it even uses it’s prehensile tail because it means they can travel for a much longer time compared to the primates that have only the locomotion of a quadrupedal. During my observation there was a point where the monkey was just prone on the cage and I thought it was almost going to pee on me because its genteel parts became very red so I stepped away from the cage. The primate at no time peed during my observation so that was a relief.

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.

These people have given detail of its features and characteristics. Bigfoot is described to have a rancid odor which is smelt from miles away. It can weight up to 1,000 pounds and it reach higher than eight feet in length (Gaffron, 16). Its footprints tell a lot about Bigfoot as well, from them scientists deduce his extremely wide strides of six to eight feet, the four inch to 24 inch foot size, and the unusual disproportionate width of the ball of its feet (Fahrenbach). With all its obvious differences Bigfoot also shares common traits with primates, for example the hair some bone structure, and a minimum mental capacity.

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

For this assignment, I have decided to design an enclosure about the primate, Mandrill. I will, in words, describe an enclosure that will prevent these nonhuman primates from not being suited to their natural habitat needs. Throughout this assignment, I will design my very own version of a perfect enclosure that secures these primates by critically thinking of any psychological or physical problems that can occur. What also will need to partake is considering the perspective of the nonhuman primates, the zookeepers, and the visitors as well. Designing an enclosure has to be precise and detailed. I will do the best I can to be as detailed as I can be when designing this enclosure.

The macaque does not have a prehensile tail which allows for handling objects. Instead they have a smaller tail referred to as a stump. Their inability to use their tails is compensated by the fact that the macaque’s fingers and thumbs share a level of dexterity that is only rivalled by humans. This skill is developed by mothers at a young age; appendix 2 shows an image of a young macaque making and carrying snowballs to practice using their opposable thumbs. Hays (2009) found that macaques can survive in climates with temperatures as low as -14oC. This is due to the difference in the texture and thickness of their fur. They are covered in a thick layer of soft fur onto which lies a layer of short, dense, courser hair. It is the thick layer which provides the heat to enable the macaque survive in such subtropical climates. The macaques live further north than any other primate excluding humans, something which has proved a barrier to survival of numerous other species throughout history. Hays (2009) describes how this is possible through a case seen in northern Honshu, where macaques bath in volcanic springs where the temperature had been previously moderated and used by humans. (Appendix 3)

Isbell and Wright’s articles both focus on monkey species and their native environments, Africa for Isbell’s (1994) vervet Old World monkey and South America, Peru area, for Wright’s (1994) owl and titis monkeys. The articles main focus is the relationship between these monkeys and their natural predators. Focusing on how the predator aspect of their lives is determined by their environment and adaptations they make to ensure survival. Isbell’s Vervets Year of Doom focuses more on the adaptations that was forced upon the vervets’ because of their changing environment, the death of fever trees. While Wright’s Night Watch on the Amazon focusses more on how the primates way of life affects their relationship with predators and the likelihood of attacks. Both articles have similar aspects however the species way of life, specifically their environment and sleep schedule, are quite different as well as the authors way of observing and studying the primates within their habitats.

Prosimians are those primates that evolved before the anthropoids. The first prosimian appears in the fossil record about 55 million years ago. Before the appearance of anthropoids, prosimians were quite prevalent. Their fossils have been discovered in all corners of the world, including Europe, Asia, Egypt and even in the northwestern United States. Madagascar is the world’s fifth largest island located off the east coast of Africa. While Madagascar broke away from Africa, more than 120 million years ago, it 's puzzling to scientists that lemurs evolved only 55 million years ago. Madagascar is world-famous for its lemurs, primates that look something like a cat crossed with a squirrel and a dog. These animals are unique to the island and display a range of interesting. One of the theories of how lemurs got to Madagascar is that they rafted there on clumps of vegetation. Once monkeys and apes appeared, daytime active prosimians were out competed and disappeared. Only nighttime active prosimians occur outside of Madagascar because there are no nocturnal monkeys or apes in those regions, except for the night monkey in South America.

This project pertains to the pygathrix cinerea or which it is more commonly know as the grey- shanked douc Monkey . It falls under the animalia kingdom, the chordata phylum, the mammalia class, the primates order, and the cercopithecidae family, the pygathrix genus,and the pygathrix nemaues species ( http://www.departments.bucknell.edu ). The body, and the majority of the arms, and lower legs are light grey with a paler underside, and their shoulders, upper legs, and part of their buttocks are marked with white patches. Their feet and hands are black while having the bare skin on their face being yellowish brown, and the areas around the mouth and chin which is white. Long white fur borders the sides of their face with a slanting eye, and their throats are white with an orange collar encircled

For many animals, the ability to move is essential for survival. Animals move for a variety of reasons such as: to find food, a mate, a habitat to live in, or to escape predators. It is important for animals to develop new abilities and traits to accomplish these necessities of living. Natural selection has shaped the locomotion methods and mechanisms used by moving organisms for millions of years. Generally, non-human primates are studied to garner an understanding of evolution caused by natural selection because of the many distinctive adaptations that have occurred within their taxonomic order. To understand the origin of locomotion that exist amongst primates, the two categories of primates must be analyzed to recognize morphological trait differences. Then, three major determinants can be evaluated to describe the variety of locomotor patterns primates display: the ecological niches in which the primate originates, the current inhabited niches, and the major key aspects of survival such as

The second grade of primates evolved about 53 million years ago, in Eocene epoch. There are five tarsier species that all live in the islands of Southeast Asia, where they inhabit from tropical forest to backyard gardens (Jurmain, et al, 2011). They are considered to be closely related to lemurs and lorises (prosimian family) for the several traits that they share with Grade I primates while having some anthropoid features as well. However, tarsiers have distinctive characteristics that isolate them from other primates. They are categorized as the smallest creatures among the primate species and they are well known for their enormous eyes which is as large as its brain. They are normally nocturnal insectivores but sometimes carnivorous. They catch insects by jumping at them and as they jump from tree to tree, they even hunt for birds while in motion.

There is a circumstance that has beset the understanding of evolution over time that there is no general theory involving primate evolution. Most of the theories are just mere speculation. Over the years, primates like gorillas, chimpanzees, and baboons all happened to have their turn in evolution. It was previously presumed that the taxon of interest happened to have the exact similar physiology and ecology as the analog taxon (Rafferty, 2010).The majority of the first primate species theories have been utilized because they solely share one fundamental characteristic with the hominines with the chimpanzees as the phylogenetic cousins. This paper addresses the different ecological conditions that handled the evolution of primates. It

According to the data collected, the Intermembral index for each of the six primates observed from highest to lowest is: Gibbon (127), Howler monkey (102), Baboon (94), Macaque (89), Marmoset (74), Human (69). From this grouping, the Gibbon is the primate whose IM at 127 is the highest percentage, and this indicates that their upper limbs are significantly longer than their lower limbs. In contrast, the Human, with an IM of only 69 serves as the lowest percentage of the examples given, and this instead serves to demonstrate that their upper limbs are shorter than their lower limbs. This difference in limb length between the Gibbon and the Human is significant because it helps to show how species are adapted to best fit the environments

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.

Kavanagh, M. & Morris, D. (1983). Complete guide to monkeys, apes and other primates. London: Viking Press.