ANT 301

Spring 2015
Shapiro
Exam 1 study guide: Exam 1 is Wed. March 11
For Exam 1, you will be responsible for knowing and understanding:
1. All lectures up to and including March 9.
2. Associated reading assignments, including textbook readings (Boyd and Silk) and
additional articles assigned (5)
3. You will be tested on the lab material separately in the lab practical, but you will need to
understand what you learned in the labs to do well on the course exam. Since the lab
content overlaps with lecture content, you should study Labs 1-6 when you prepare for
Exam 1.
Primate Taxonomy Review and see handout on primate taxonomy (on Canvas, in section
on Lab 2)
These are the taxonomic names, geographical areas, and other information you will be required
to know:
ORDER: PRIMATES
SUBORDER: Note you should understand the difference between the taxonomic divisions of
Prosimians/Anthropoids vs. Strepsirrhines/Haplorhines
SUBORDER Strepsirrhini (Strepsirrhines)
Infraorder
Infraorder

Lemuriformes lemurs from Madagascar

Lorisiformes (lorises, galagos) Africa, Asia

SUBORDER: Haplorhini (Haplorhines) (Which ones are anthropoids?)

Infraorder
Infraorder
Infraorder

Tarsiiformes (tarsiers) Asia

Platyrrhini (New World monkeys)
Catarrhini (Old World monkeys, apes, humans)

INFRAORDER: Platyrrhini (Platyrrhines, New World Monkeys): Central and South

America
FAMILY: Pitheciidae
FAMILY: Atelidae
FAMILY: Cebidae
(one example of)
SUBFAMILY: Callitrichinae (Callitrichines)

marmosets and tamarins

(The rest of the New World monkeys, including the nocturnal owl monkey and the prehensile
tailed forms such as the spider monkey, belong to five other subfamilies)
INFRAORDER: Catarrhini (Catarrhines) = Old World monkeys, apes,
humans
SUPERFAMILY: Cercopithecoidea
FAMILY: Cercopithecidae
SUBFAMILY: Cercopithecinae (Cercopithecines) = cheek pouch
monkeys such as baboon, guenons, macaques (Africa, Asia)
SUBFAMILY: Colobinae (Colobines) = leaf monkeys, such as langurs,
colobus monkeys (Africa, Asia)
SUPERFAMILY: Hominoidea (Hominoids)
includes:
Great apes:
Orangutan: Pongo pygmaeus
Gorilla: Gorilla gorilla
Chimpanzee: Pan troglodytes (sometimes known as common chimpanzee)
Bonobo: Pan paniscus (bonobo)
Lesser apes:
Gibbons and siamangs: Hylobates
Humans: Homo sapiens
CURRENT CLASSIFICATION: (Based on the fact that chimpanzees and gorillas are more closely related to
humans than they are to orangutans - that is, humans, chimpanzees,and gorillas share a common ancestor not shared
by orangutans.
FAMILY: Hylobatidae (gibbons and siamangs)
FAMILY: Pongidae (orangutans)
FAMILY: Hominidae (chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans)

Note: "Hominin" will be used in this class to refer to humans and their direct ancestors.

Other areas you should study:

You should be aware of the traits and behaviors that distinguish primates from other
mammals.
You should know the general anatomical features that distinguish:
1. Strepsirrhines from haplorhines (e.g., tooth comb in strepsirrhines, postorbital closure in
haplorhines)
2. Tarsiers from other prosimians
3. Platyrrhines from Catarrhines (e.g. number of premolars)
4. Cercopithecines from Colobines (e.g, diet, incisor size)
5. Callitrichines from other platyrrhines (e.g. claws)
6. Apes from other catarrhines (e.g. lack of tail, long arms)
Primate Adaptations
What are the various locomotor behaviors primates use? How are they adapted to them? How
does body size influence these behaviors?
What are the types of foods primates choose? How is their dentition adapted to their diet? How
does body size influence dietary behavior?
Primate Social Behavior
Why do primates live in groups?
How do primate social groups differ between species and how does their structure relate to
ecology? Reproductive strategy?
Humans: Anatomy and Behavior
How do humans differ from other primates in anatomy and behavior?
Do other primates use/make tools? have language? culture?
What are the anatomical adaptations for human bipedalism?
History of Evolutionary theory
What was the historical background that led to Darwins understanding of the mechanisms by
which evolution works? (who were some of the important thinkers that preceded Darwin?)
How does natural selection produce evolutionary change?
How do Darwins finches demonstrate the process of natural selection? Can you name any
other examples of natural selection?
Genes and Inheritance
How is variation produced by sexual reproduction?
How are Mendelian traits inherited?
What can population genetics tell us about evolutionary change?
What is Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and what does it tell us about evolution?
What is the Hardy-Weinberg equation and how does one use it?
Human variation and adaptation: Can you describe and explain these examples of natural
selection on human populations?
Sickle cell anemia, Lactose tolerance/intolerance, skin color