Deck 5: Primates in Evolution

Question 1

Molecular dating suggests all primate species alive today can trace their ancestry back to a common ancestor some 63 myr ago.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Since primates can be found today in jungles, forests, woodlands, savannas, and deserts, they can be characterized as ecologically variable and adaptable.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

All primates can walk, run, bound, climb, cling, leap, brachiate, and hang, but each does only one well.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Since arboreal monkeys have long tails and terrestrial ones have short stubby tails, scientists conclude having a tail is connected to maintaining balance in trees.

Question 5

Cathemereal primates are those who take short hibernations during the coldest part of their yearly cycle.

Question 6

In general, nocturnal primates are relatively unsocial.

Question 7

In no primate group do females have power over males

Question 8

The most complex form of socio-political structure known for any primate group except humans is the three-layered system of the hamadryas baboons.

Question 9

One dental trait that identifies fossil and modern monkeys is their bilophodont molars.

Question 10

All monkeys have external tails but no modern or fossil ape does.

Question 11

Based on molecular evidence, orangutans split from the lineage leading to humans about 9 myr ago.

Question 12

Your text suggests there are over 250 species of primates alive today.

Question 13

There are more primates in Kenya per square mile than anywhere else on Earth.

Question 14

Average life expectancy increases from prosimian to monkey to ape to human.

Question 15

Most primates are diurnal in their activity patterns.

Question 16

The least social primate is the orangutan.

Question 17

The only unique trait for all primates is the petrosal bulla.

Question 18

A dental formula (DF) tells how many teeth there are in a mouth's quadrant.

Question 19

Humans have l0 fingernails but prosimians and tarsiers also have some "toilet claws."

Question 20

Molecular evidence suggests monkeys split from the lineage eventually leading to humans about 40 myr ago.

Question 21

The best hypothesis to explain why primates became arboreal is that they could eat insects in the trees.

Question 22

Molecular evidence would date the first primates at about 100 myr ago.

Question 23

The famous Fayum Depression is in Egypt.

Question 24

A Y-5 molar pattern would identify an ape rather than a monkey.

Question 25

Sahelanthropous and Orronin are definitely early hominids.

Question 26

Which of the following various ways of primate locomotion shows similar length of front and back limbs?

A) leapers and clingers
B) brachiators
C) suspensory primates
D) arboreal or terrestrial quadrupeds

Question 27

If you were classified as a cathemeral primate, you would:

A) hang out around edges of churches
B) be active at any time of day or night
C) eat only insects and their larvae
D) hibernate part of the year

Question 28

Primates are regarded as being social for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

A) they are genetically programmed to be highly social
B) there is safety in numbers
C) to find suitable partners for mating
D) for help in child care

Question 29

All modern and fossil monkeys have , but no fossil or modern ape does.

A) external tails
B) quadrupedal locomotion
C) large canines and diastema
D) a Y-5 pattern on their molars

Question 30

All apes have all of the following traits EXCEPT

A) Y-5 molar pattern
B) absence of external tails
C) diastema and large canines
D) a 2.1.2.3 dental formula

Question 31

In this text, which of the following is NOT considered a suborder of Primates?

A) monkeys
B) prosimians
C) anthropoidea
D) tarsiers

Question 32

Experts who believe there are 3 suborders add tarsiers as a suborder based on

A) DNA tests
B) traits not shared with the other suborders
C) omnivores
D) molecular evidence

Question 33

Relative to diet, the majority of primates are

A) insect eaters
B) fruit eaters
C) omnivores
D) leaf eaters

Question 34

There are more primates per square unit of space in than anywhere else on Earth:

A) Kenya
B) Madagascar
C) Indonesia
D) Costa Rica

Question 35

The only unique trait for all primates is the

A) Y-5 molar tooth
B) 2.1.2.3 DF
C) petrosal bulla bone
D) presence of a clavicle

Question 36

The function of the postorbital bar is to

A) protect the hearing mechanism
B) surround and protect the eye
C) give 3D vision
D) separate vision and hearing

Question 37

How long ago does molecular evidence predict monkeys split from the lineage leading to humans?

A) 60 myr ago
B) 40 myr ago
C) 20 myr ago
D) l0 myr ago

Question 38

Primates initially became arboreal in order to:

A) escape predators
B) get to fruits and flowers on the ends of tree limbs
C) find insects
D) build nests

Question 39

When would the first primate have been in existence?

A) 63 myr ago
B) 40 myr ago
C) 80 myr ago
D) 125 myr ago

Question 40

Where is the famous Fayum Depression? In

A) Kenya
B) central Africa
C) Egypt
D) Madagascar

Question 41

Which of these would NOT have a Y-5 molar?

A) human
B) chimpanzee
C) orangutan
D) monkey

Question 42

The Last Common Ancestor (LCA) likely excludes the ancestors of which of the following?

A) chimpanzee
B) human
C) orangutans
D) gorillas

Question 43

Describe the three-tiered social/political system of the hamadryas baboons.

Question 44

Differentiate between the two dental patterns in fossil and modern monkeys and apes. What would identify a particular tooth?

Question 45

You are going to make a video of the first primate group: what five behaviors would you be sure to have them

Question 46

There are three candidates for the position of first hominid. Where and when did they exist and why are they only candidates?

Question 47

Locomotion differs more for Primates than any other order. Write a sentence describing all you can with one example of a species for each mode.

Question 48

Primates have only one trait that is universal but 14 that most have, Discuss any five of these that most have.

Question 49

There are three recent fossils that are reasonably dated, so that any could be the earliest hominid. Discuss these three by date, place, and why they may be the first hominid.