Question 1

Old World monkeys have all of the following characteristics except:

Accepted Answer

Old World monkeys do live in trees, as they are arboreal primates.

Question 2

Below the primate skull and neck is the__________________,a bone found in ancestral mammals though lost in mammals such as cats.

Accepted Answer

The clavicle, also known as the collarbone, is found in ancestral mammals and some primates but is lost in other mammals such as cats. It is located below the primate skull and neck. The cranium refers to the skull itself, the foramen magnum is a hole in the skull where the spinal cord passes through, the vertebrate refers to any of the individual bones that make up the spine, and the fovea centralis refers to a part of the eye.

Question 3

New World monkeys live in:

Accepted Answer

New World monkeys are primarily found in the tropical forests of South and Central America.

Question 4

The area of the brain that has enlarged dramatically in primates is the:

Accepted Answer

The cerebral cortex, which is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as language, reasoning, and decision-making, has undergone significant expansion in primates compared to other parts of the brain.

Question 5

The gorilla and chimpanzee both practice a distinctive form of locomotion called:

Accepted Answer

Gorillas and chimpanzees are known for knuckle walking, which involves walking on all fours with their fingers curled under to support their weight on their knuckles.

Question 6

Tarsiers resemble monkeys in their noses and lips,and in that part of the brain that governs:

Accepted Answer

Tarsiers have large eyes and rely heavily on vision, so the part of the brain that governs vision is most similar to that of monkeys, making option E the best answer. While tarsiers do have a well-developed sense of hearing, touch, and smell, these senses are not as similar between tarsiers and monkeys as their visual systems are.

Question 7

The primate skeleton reflects the importance in primate evolution of most of the following characteristics.Which of the following does it not reflect?

Accepted Answer

The primate skeleton does not reflect an increased significance of smell, as primates rely more on vision and touch than smell in their sensory processing.

Question 8

Only New World monkeys have a tail that is:

Accepted Answer

Only New World monkeys have a prehensile tail, which means they can use it to grasp and hold onto branches for support and balance. Opposable refers to the ability to move a digit across the palm to touch other fingers or the thumb. Wooly and used as a suspensory apparatus or for grooming are not exclusive to New World monkeys.

Question 9

The African Wildlife Foundation had to adjust its mission to protect local wildlife in Congo in the early 2000s for all of the following reasons except:

Accepted Answer

The African Wildlife Foundation had to adjust its mission to protect local wildlife in Congo in the early 2000s due to a civil war, increase in poaching, insufficient park staff, and evacuation of some AWF staff. However, there is no mention of a loss of overseas funding as a reason for the adjustment of their mission.

Question 10

Among many species,males possess larger canine teeth than females.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Sexual dimorphism refers to the differences in physical characteristics between males and females of the same species, and larger canine teeth in males is a common example of sexual dimorphism. This difference is often related to competition for mates or resources, with males using their larger canines as a display of dominance or to fight off competitors.

Question 11

Unique to lemurs and lorises are all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Lemurs and lorises share several unique features, but a 2-1-2-3 dental formula is not exclusive to them; it is found in other primates as well. The other options (A, B, D, E) are indeed characteristics unique to lemurs and lorises.

Question 12

Approximately what percentage of the known primate species and subspecies face extinction in the next decade?

Accepted Answer

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), approximately 50% of primate species and subspecies are threatened with extinction in the next decade. These threats come from factors such as deforestation, hunting, and disease.

Question 13

The evolution of larger brains in primates may be due to all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The development of very specialized dental formulas is not a factor in the evolution of larger brains in primates. The other options all have evidence supporting their contribution to the evolution of larger brains in primates.

Question 14

Primates have a fovea centralis,leading to which of the following consequences?

Accepted Answer

The fovea centralis is a specialized part of the retina that allows for sharp and clear vision. Primates have this feature, which enables them to focus clearly on a particular object.

Question 15

In Indonesia and Vietnam,the statistics of known primate species and subspecies that face extinction in the next decade are higher than other areas.In these areas researchers estimate what percentage of primate species as threatened today?

Accepted Answer

In Indonesia and Vietnam, researchers estimate that 80% of primate species are threatened today, highlighting the critical conservation status of primates in these regions.

Question 16

Which of the following occurs during binocular vision?

Accepted Answer

Binocular vision occurs when the visual fields of each eye overlap, which allows for depth perception. This is why having two eyes is important for humans and other animals.

Question 17

The large opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes is an important clue to evolutionary relationships.It is called the:

Accepted Answer

The large opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes is called the foramen magnum. This feature is an important clue to evolutionary relationships, as it can indicate whether an organism walked upright or on all fours.

Question 18

The capability to use the arms to move from branch to branch,with the body hanging suspended beneath the arms,is called:

Accepted Answer

Brachiation refers to the method of locomotion used by some primates, such as gibbons, where they swing from branch to branch using their arms while their body hangs suspended beneath them. The other options are all parts or features of the skeletal system, but do not specifically relate to this method of movement.

Question 19

The orangutans found in Borneo tend to lead a solitary existence because they have to forage far and wide for sufficient food.In contrast,fruits and insects are sufficiently abundant in the swamps of Sumatra to sustain groups of adult orangs and permit coordinated group travel.Thus,we can say that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The orangutans found in Borneo tend to...

Question 20

The perception of which of the following colors is a more recent phenomenon for monkeys?

Accepted Answer

The perception of the color red is a more recent phenomenon for monkeys due to the evolution of a third type of photoreceptor in their eyes, allowing them to distinguish red from green. This trichromatic vision is an evolutionary adaptation that is not as ancient as the perception of other colors like blue, black, or grey, which are discerned with the more primitive dichromatic vision.

Quiz 3: Living Primates