Category 1
Which of the following characteristics is not shared by all primates?
a) binocular visionb) three dimensional depth perception
c) color vision like humans
c) color vision like humans
While humans, apes, and some monkeys can see the full range of colors, lemurs and most of the other more primitive primates cannot.
When a hand grip is formed by partial bending or flexing of the fingers and the palm, sometimes with counter force applied by the thumb, it is a:
a) power grip
b) precision grip
c) digit
a) power grip
A power grip is used by monkeys, apes, and people to get a strong, secure grasp, as when using a hammer or hanging from a tree branch. It would not normally be used for precision manipulation of small objects.
How do animals adapt to their environments?
a) with genetically inherited behavioral patterns
b) with learned behavioral patterns
c) both of the above
d) none of the above
c) both of the above
Animals may adapt in either of these ways. The more intelligent animals, such as primates, primarily adapt with non-instinctive, learned behavior patterns. Insects and other simpler organisms adapt almost exclusively with innate behavioral patterns.
Which of the following statements is true of primate studies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
a) They were mostly carried out in zoos
b) They usually underestimated the amount of primate aggressive behavior.
c) Their conclusions about primate behavioral patterns are generally still considered to be valid
d) a and b
a) They were mostly carried out in zoos
Very few early researchers actually observed non-human primates in the wild. Zoo primates were usually crowded together in barren caged enclosures. As a result, the behavior of the inmates was very abnormal, not unlike that of humans in prisons.
The people who carry out scientific studies of non-human primate behavioral patterns are called:
Primatologists
Which of the following animals is not a primate?
a) humans
b) apes
c) monkeys
d) all are primates
d) all are primates
The Order Primates includes people, apes, monkeys, and some related animals such as lemurs.
Which of the following statements best describes the primate enclosures in our best zoos today?
a) They provide a completely natural environment.
b) They are now sufficiently interesting and varied to prevent apes from developing abnormal personalities.
c) The primates within these modern enclosures are allowed to select their own food and mates.
d) none of the above
d) none of the above.
Primates are:
a) mammals
b) relatively unspecialized in their physical adaptations
c) animals with large brains relative to their body size
d) all of the above
d) all of the above
Primates are one of the 18 surviving orders of mammals. They generally lack anatomical specializations that would allow them to run fast, fly, etc. However, they do have large, clever brains which give them advantages in the competition for survival.
Primates:
a) are all medium dog size or larger with gorillas being the biggest
b) often groom each other's fur
c) generally lack sensitive tactile pads on the tips of their fingers
d) all of the above
b) often groom each other's fur
Among most primate species, individuals regularly groom each other. This keeps their fur and skin free of insects and debris. It is also a means of providing psychological and social satisfaction.
Primates have:
a) long gestation periods for animals of their size
b) many offspring at a time--usually two or more
c) short natural life spans for animals of their size
d) none of the above
a) long gestation periods for animals of their size
Most primate species have long pregnancies, or gestation periods. The result is that offspring are born more mature and, therefore, have a greater chance of survival. This gives primates a selective advantage.
When you hold a pencil while writing, you are using a ____________ grip.
a) power
b) pentadactyl
c) precision
c) precision
Most people normally hold a pencil by pinching it between your forefingers and thumb. In contrast, a power grip would be used to hold a larger object such as an ax handle.
How long should a primatologist study a community of free-ranging primates in order to get a thorough understanding of their behavioral patterns?
a) 1-3 months
b) 6 months to 1 year
c) at least half of the lifetime of an individual in the species being studied
c) at least half of the lifetime of an individual in the species being studied
It usually takes many years of patient observation before a reasonably complete picture of individual and community life becomes clear because primate behavior is complex and varies through time. Thorough studies of great apes may take 20-30 years.
Pentadactylism refers to having:
a) five digits on the end of a hand or foot
b) an opposable thumb on each hand
c) a reptile-like reproductive system
d) reptile-like pointed teeth
a) five digits on the end of a hand or foot
Penta means five and dactyl means digit in Greek. Almost all primates have 5 fingers on their hands and five toes on their feet. Pentadactylism is an ancient trait found among our early mammal and reptile ancestors.
___________ refers to the sense of smell.
a) olfactory
b) bipedal
c) gustatory
d) auditory
a) olfactory
With their relatively small noses, humans, apes, and monkeys have a much poorer smelling capability than do the lemurs and other more primitive primates.
Binocular vision is necessary for:
a) mutual grooming
b) three dimensional depth perception
c) quadrupedal locomotion
d) all of the above
b) three dimensional depth perception
Binocular means seeing with two eyes. Being able to see an object with an overlapping field of view from two eyes is necessary for true three dimensional, or stereoscopic, vision.
Which of the following statements about primates is true?
a) Diurnal species are generally more sociable than nocturnal ones.
b) Most species are primarily terrestrial.
c) The diet of most species is primarily carnivorous.
d) None of the above
a) Diurnal species are generally more sociable than nocturnal ones.
The majority of primate species that are active during the day live in large social groups and have more complex interactions than do the nocturnal ones. Most primates are diurnal. Only a few of the smaller ones are not.
The Order Primates includes about how many living species?
a) 10
b) 77
c) 190
d) 556
c) 190
The actual number of species is probably somewhat higher than 190 since possible new ones are found every few years.
The strong primate collar bones (clavicles) and flexible shoulder joints are adapted primarily for what purpose?
Climbing in trees.
Non-human primates mostly live in _______________ regions of the world.
a) tropical and subtropical
b) subtropical and temperate
c) all
a) tropical and subtropical
With few exceptions, primates are limited to the warm, snow-free environments in the middle latitudes of the world. They are also rare in desert environments.
Which of the following statements is true concerning primates?
a) No primates have prehensile feet.
b) 70% of primates have prehensile feet
c) All primates except humans have prehensile feet.
d) All primates have prehensile feet.
c) All primates except humans have prehensile feet.
All primates except humans are capable of holding and manipulating objects efficiently with their feet. Human toes are too short and lack the opposability necessary to effectively grasp most objects.