Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Molecular dating studies have estimated the most recent common ancestor of all living primates to have lived around 63 million years ago during the Paleocene epoch.

Question 2

In general, psychologists study "why" questions and anthropologists study the "how" questions in primate research.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. Psychologists and anthropologists both study the "why" and "how" questions in primate research, but they bring different theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to their research.

Question 3

Only when what is learned about fellow primates can be applied to knowledge about humans is it anthropological.

Accepted Answer

Anthropology is the study of humans and human societies, including their cultures, behaviors, and beliefs. However, since humans are also primates, understanding our primate relatives can provide valuable insight into human evolution and behavior. Therefore, when knowledge about fellow primates is applied to understanding humans, it becomes part of the field of anthropology.

Question 4

There are more primates per square mile in Kenya than anywhere else in the world.

Accepted Answer

Brazil has the highest number of primate species in the world, making it more likely to have a higher density of primates per square mile in certain areas compared to Kenya.

Question 5

The bias in primatology before 1960 was against female primatologists and female primates.

Accepted Answer

Before 1960, the field of primatology was dominated by male researchers who focused on male primates, often overlooking the behavior and importance of female primates. Female researchers were often excluded from fieldwork and opportunities for advancement. It wasn't until the 1960s and 1970s that female primatologists began to make significant contributions to the field and pushed for a greater focus on the importance of female primates in research.

Question 6

Japanese primatologists are primarily descriptive.

Accepted Answer

Japanese primatologists are known for their detailed observations and descriptions of primate behavior, ecology and biology, making them primarily descriptive.

Question 7

The earliest primatologists were psychologists.

Accepted Answer

Some of the earliest primatologists, such as Wolfgang Köhler and Robert Yerkes, were psychologists who conducted research on primates to better understand animal intelligence and behavior.

Question 8

Most cognitive studies with primates are done on baboons.

Accepted Answer

While baboons are sometimes used in cognitive studies with primates, they are not the only primate species studied. Other primates commonly studied include chimpanzees, capuchin monkeys, and macaques.

Question 9

Self-recognition is found only in humans and apes.

Accepted Answer

Self-recognition, or the ability to recognize oneself in a mirror or photograph, has only been observed in humans and several species of primates, including chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas.

Question 10

The Japanese school of primatology is more apt to anthropomorphize their primates than Westerners.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that Japanese primatologists are more likely to attribute human-like emotions and thoughts to primates than their Western counterparts, who tend to emphasize the animals' evolutionary distance from humans. This difference in perspective has been linked to cultural beliefs about the relationship between humans and nature.

Question 11

All prosimians use scent marking glands in their genital area to mark their territory.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Prosimians, which include lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers, have scent marking glands in their genital area that they use to mark their territory and communicate with other members of their species.

Question 12

DNA evidence suggests the large variability in Madagascar prosimians is due to multiple raftings from Africa to the island, one rafting per modern species.

Accepted Answer

Although Madagascar prosimians have indeed arrived on the island through rafting events from Africa, the genetic evidence suggests multiple speciation events within Madagascar rather than one speciation event per modern species.

Question 13

The Madagascar prosimian that is characterized as a nocturnal "scurrying rat," that eats larvae puree, and is close to extinction is the aye aye.

Accepted Answer

The aye aye is a nocturnal prosimian found in Madagascar that is characterized as a "scurrying rat," and it has a unique long middle finger that is used for fishing insect larvae out of trees. Its diet also includes fruit, nuts, and seeds. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction and hunting, the aye aye is considered to be close to extinction.

Question 14

The ringtail lemur is able to jump 15 feet straight up in the air as well as turn its head 180 degrees.

Accepted Answer

The ringtail lemur cannot jump 15 feet straight up in the air, and while it has a flexible neck, it cannot turn its head 180 degrees. The abilities described are exaggerated and not characteristic of ringtail lemurs.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Bilophodont molars have two main ridges, or lophs, running parallel to each other, which can be found in both fossil and modern monkeys.

Question 16

Like prosimians, Old and New World monkeys have upper lips that are connected to the insides of their mouths, making them appear expressionless.

Accepted Answer

Old and New World monkeys have more mobility in their upper lip than prosimians, allowing them to make a wider range of facial expressions.

Question 17

Although we now have modern evidence of a "real rafting event," whether the group can sustain its colonization has not yet been established.

Accepted Answer

The sentence states that while there is evidence of a rafting event, it is unknown whether or not the group can sustain their colonization, thus implying that the colonization has not been established.

Question 18

Most New World monkeys have prehensile tails with fingerprints on their ends.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Most New World monkeys have prehensile tails, which means they can use their tails as an extra limb to grasp or hold onto objects. Their tails also have tactile pads with unique fingerprints on the ends, which helps them grip onto branches more tightly.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Monkeys typically have external tails, whereas apes, both modern and fossil, do not have tails. This is a distinguishing feature between the two groups.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The split between orangutans and the lineage leading to humans occurred approximately 12 to 16 million years ago, not 9 million years ago.

Quiz 14: Primates Today