Primate Comparison - Week 4

Primate Comparison Week 4

When comparing the social and mating patterns of lemurs, spider monkeys, baboons, gibbons, and chimpanzees will gain one an evolutionary viewpoint by using the behavioral ecology approach. One must first do a thorough investigation of the environment in which the primates live is needed to understand behavioral: social and mating patterns.

Lemurs (Prosimians/Strepsirhini)

Lemurs occupy Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, and have adapted to the regions two different climate zones; the rain forest and the dry regions. The rainforests brings on floods, while the dry region in the west brings on drought. The environmental condition in which the lemur has adapted also makes different sets of adaptations. These two extreme sets of weather have created morphological and behavioral varieties amongst the lemur species.

 Lemurs have heterodyne- dentition patterns, meaning that there is more than one single tooth morphology. The tooth patterns of the lemurs vary based on their environment and diet. All lemurs share a common trait of a toothcomb, as well as a dental formula of 2.1.3.3. A toothcomb is the set of bottom incisors and canines, and facing forward instead of up, and are used for such activities such as cutting through tree bark extruding seeds, and grooming. Since they are smaller creatures it could be used as a defense mechanism and to ward off prey.

 The dentition pattern of the lemur has been influenced by the environment due to the fact that they are primarily arboreal, consuming mostly plant material. Their toothcomb is a perfect trait for an animal who consumes fruit and woody plants such as trees, shrubs, and bushes.  I believe the toothcomb is an trait that has adapted and has assisted the lemur survive in its environment.

Spider Monkey (New World Monkey/Platyrrhini)

 Spider moneys inhabit the tropical rain forests from - Peru, Central Mexico, South America and Brazil,. This area reaches from Brazil to Mexico.  Their long limbs and tail help them to navigate through the evergreens which make up the rain forest. They spider monkey prefers areas of the rainforest that are isolated and basically undisturbed..

 The Spider monkey dental formula is as follows - 2.1.3.3 which means the ratio is 2 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars and 3 molars, similar to that of a lemur. Spider Monkeys have a total of 36 teeth, which are also smaller in size in comparison to its overall head size.

 The Spider monkeys dentition pattern can be seen as an adaptation to its environment since the 36 teeth help it to eat the fruit and nuts which primarily make up its daily diet. Its sharp canine’s aide in eating and penetrating through hard fruit, and its premolars and molars help the Spider monkey eat hard nuts, chewing them thoroughly.  Both of the above can easily be viewed as adaptations to their given environment.

Baboon (Old World Monkey/Cercopithecidae)

 Baboons are strictly ground dwelling creatures during the day, returning to the trees at night, inhabiting a range of environments: tropical rain forest, shrub land, the wide open savannahs, hills and open woodlands across Africa and Asia. They belong to the Cercopithecoidea superfamily within the Haplorhini suborder of the primate order. They are also found surviving in Gibraltar, south of Spain. Baboons are very social. The smallest group size might have about 50 members, and can easily reach up to 200 plus members.

The Baboons dental formula is as follows - 2.1.2.3 which means they have 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars and 3 molars. Baboons have long, dog-like muzzles, which house their extremely powerful jaws and two sharp canine teeth. They are omnivorous are known for eating insects, fish, shellfish, hares, birds and small antelopes, but their diet consists of mainly plants.

It is clear to me that their dental pattern has helped them to eat a wide variety of foods which has aided their survival.  Their sharp canines help them penetrate through thick hard foods even though the molars help in the chewing of plant materials, shellfish, and animal meats etc.

Gibbon ((Lessor ape/Hylobatidae)

Gibbons are native to the rain forests of Southeast, South and East Asia which Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Gibbons are more so compared to humans, living in similar nuclear families, and are monogamous; their communities consist of adults and the offspring, with a gestation period of 7 months. Gibbons rarely go down to the forest floor as they live mainly in the tree tops and are considered arboreal. They are always defending their territory,(much like howler monkeys) against other species with loud whooping and hooting vocalizations. They make their home in the dense rain forests of these areas using their long arms to navigate from tree to tree.

The Gibbons dental formula is as follows - 2.1.2.3 which is similar to that of baboons. This means they have 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars and 3 molars. This is an ideal combination for the wide variety of food that they like to consume regularly.

 I think it is clear that the dentition pattern helps the baboon to eat a diet consisting of fruit, flowers, young leaves, insects and birds, and, bird eggs.  The primates’ ability to easily adapt to its environment is partly due to Gibbons dentition pattern and its ability to consume a wide variety of foods.

Chimpanzee (Great Ape/Hominidae)

Chimpanzee are found in about 21 African countries from the west coast of the continent to as far east as western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, in what is known as the equatorial forest “belt”, tropical forests and bordering in Savannas. They are very social living in communities of about 20 to 150 or so, though they travel in small groups. They rarely live past the age of 50, weighing between 90 and 115 pounds and measure about 4 feet in height Chimpanzees occupy the rain forests, woodlands and grasslands of Africa, primarily Central and West Africa. The Chimpanzee lives in a fission-fusion society: mating being promiscuous. The male Chimpanzee is dominant and has sexual power over the females. The female is basically the procreator role, and the gestation period is 8 months. They walk on all fours but also swing from tree to tree as well as stand and walk upright. And they prefer areas where there are plenty of trees.

The Chimpanzee dental formula is as follows - 2.1.2.3 which is similar to Baboons and Gibbons. This means they have 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars. This dentition helps them eat a diet full of fruit, plant, birds and small animals. There sharp canines can also be used by the Chimpanzee in defense of other animals and predators.

I believe it is evident that the Chimpanzee’s teeth have helped it surviving in an environment where it can potentially be attacked by other animals such as lions and tigers. The wide variation of teeth help the Chimpanzee eat a diet filled with a variety of plants and animals.

After researching the specified primates dentition patterns, I have found a slight similarity amongst the all the above. I believe that their environment played a role in developing their dental traits which contributed to their survival.