Differences between primates and humans
Prehensility Only new world monkeys have prehensile tails ex. black howler monkey All primates have dermal ridges; humans have closer dermal ridges, which has to do with how sensitive our fingers are Opposable digits – related to prehensility spider monkey does not have opposable digit on front leg Nails, no claws Most primates have nails Tarsier has little claws Sensitive tactile digits ) Altricial young (born helpless) typically primates will have one offspring at a time Long gestation periods; carrying in utero Primates have longest period of dependency among mammals Human gest – 9 age at reproduction 15 Chimp 8 - age at 12 A lot of paretnal investment for primate parents ) Highly intelligent humans and chimps have largest brain relative to body size the convolution of brains surface increases surface human brain is about 1350 cc; chimp is 400 cc Humans have big neocortex (thinking part of brain) ) Varied social organization (handout on sakai that diagrams social organization for different groups of primates) Monogamous – ex. gibbons, samangs Uni-male groups – Gorillas Uni-female – marmasets + tamarines Multifemale /multimale – baboons, macaques, chimps
