UT ANT 301 - Further Evaluating the Arboreal Hypothesis (4 pages)

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ANT301 1nd Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture II What is a primate III Primate Characteristics IV Primate Myths V Why did features of primates evolve a Arboreal hypothesis Outline of Current Lecture I Problems with arboreal hypothesis II Who does have forward facing eyes III Visual predication hypothesis IV Prosimians V Tarsiers VI Key anatomical features Current Lecture Problems with the arboreal hypothesis 1 Not all arboreal mammals have forward facing eyes 2 Not all arboreal mammals have grasping hands and feet with nails instead of claws a Squirrels b Sloths c Tamandua d Tree kangaroo Conclusions arboreality in itself is insufficient to account for the evolution of typical primate characteristics Comparative method like astronomy political science testing hypothesis by looking at the variety of species and adaptations that have evolved in the natural world So who does have forward facing eyes These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Nocturnal Visual Predators o Owls o Cats o Bush baby Earliest primates where nocturnal predators You need to be able to zero in on the prey and calculate the distance must have depth perception Many predators capture prey with mouth oral capture style Predatory primates cats and owls all capture prey with an appendage Binocular vision important for depth perception to guide strike Earliest fossil primates were small nocturnal predators o Small o Big orbits o Teeth good for slicing bugs Q so who does have grasping hands and feet A small arboreal mammals that inhabit a fine branch niche to evolve to arboriality Chiropodomys Asian pencil tailed tree mouse o Small animals moving around on tiny vines and twigs Pithecheir Malay monkey footed tree rat Cercartetus pygmy possum Australia New Guinea Most arboreal mammals with claws use their hands and feet in a fashion different from primates Second explanation Visual