Question 1

Which of these is a special dietary adaptation of the colobines?
A) they have an extended gut to help them digest leaves
B) they have modified incisors to help them gouge trees for sap
C) they have very long tongues so they can reach nectar inside flowers
D) they have developed immunity to most plant toxins

Accepted Answer

Colobines have an extended gut compared to other primates, which helps them digest the tough leaves they primarily feed on. This adaptation allows them to extract more nutrients from the leaves, which are typically low in nutritional value.

Question 2

As with humans,other primates need play time to help develop normally.This is because play __________.
A) provides a way to learn social skills
B) creates a status-free social system
C) is a necessary activity in adult primate life
D) determines one's place in the social hierarchy

Accepted Answer

Play provides an opportunity for primates to learn and develop social skills such as communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. It also allows them to practice and refine physical abilities and cognitive skills.

Question 3

What is one simple distinction between lorises and bush babies?
A) Lorises move much more slowly than bush babies.
B) Lorises are more terrestrial than bush babies.
C) Lorises eat insects, and bush babies are vegetarian.
D) Lorises are diurnal, and bush babies are nocturnal.

Accepted Answer

Lorises are known for their slow and deliberate movements, while bush babies are agile and fast-moving.

Question 4

The Y-5 pattern of hominids refers to a feature on the __________.
A) molars
B) cerebral cortex
C) femur
D) pelvis

Accepted Answer

The Y-5 pattern refers to the arrangement of cusps on the molars of hominids, which is characteristic of apes and humans.

Question 5

Which of the following is absent among hominoids?
A) a tail
B) thumbs
C) forward-facing eyes
D) toenails

Accepted Answer

Homonoids are primates that do not have tails, unlike most other primates. Thumbs, forward-facing eyes, and toenails are all present in hominoids.

Question 6

How are primate teeth specialized?
A) The front teeth are often highly specialized, but the chewing teeth are unspecialized.
B) The chewing teeth are often highly specialized, but the front teeth are unspecialized.
C) The back teeth are completely absent, allowing for the primate's distinctive flat face.
D) The front teeth are completely absent, allowing for the primate's distinctive flat face.

Accepted Answer

Primate front teeth, such as incisors and canines, are often specialized for tasks like grooming or food acquisition, while their molars and premolars (chewing teeth) are more generalized for processing a variety of foods.

Question 7

Which of the following traits do most primates share?
A) two bones in the lower portion of the forelimbs
B) cold-blooded
C) short infant dependency period
D) monoscopic vision

Accepted Answer

Most primates have two bones in the lower portion of their forelimbs which enable greater mobility and dexterity, allowing them to manipulate objects with precision. Cold-bloodedness is a characteristic of reptiles and fish, not primates. While some primate species have shorter infant dependency periods than others, it is not a trait shared by all primates. Monoscopic vision refers to having both eyes on the same side of the head, which is not a trait shared by most primates who have eyes on the front of their faces for binocular vision.

Question 8

Which of these is a late Miocene ape?
A) Dryopithecus
B) Pierolapithecus
C) Aegyptopithecus
D) Kenyapithecus

Accepted Answer

Dryopithecus is the only option among the given choices that belongs to the late Miocene period. Pierolapithecus lived in the early Miocene, Aegyptopithecus lived in the early Oligocene, and Kenyapithecus lived in the middle to late Miocene.

Question 9

Where is the best record of Oligocene anthropoid fossils located?
A) the Fayum
B) Olduvai Gorge
C) the U.S. southwest
D) the Gobi desert

Accepted Answer

The best record of Oligocene anthropoid fossils is located in the Fayum region of Egypt. This region has yielded numerous well-preserved and diverse primate fossils from the Oligocene period.

Question 10

All primates have prehensile __________.
A) hands
B) tails
C) feet
D) elbows

Accepted Answer

Prehensile hands are a common characteristic among primates. While some primates (such as some species of monkeys) have prehensile tails, not all primates do, making B an inaccurate answer. C and D are also incorrect as primates do not have prehensile feet or elbows.

Question 11

Which recently discovered species is providing a glimpse into the poorly understood period of hominoid evolution?
A) Sahelanthropus tchadensis
B) Homo floresiensis
C) Homo sapiens
D) Paranthrobus robustus

Accepted Answer

Sahelanthropus tchadensis is a recently discovered species that is providing a glimpse into the poorly understood period of hominoid evolution, dating back to approximately 6-7 million years ago. This species is significant as it is believed to be one of the earliest hominids that walked on two legs.

Question 12

Captive bonobos show language comprehension abilities similar to that of a(n)__________.
A) two-year-old child
B) adult
C) parrot
D) domestic dog

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that captive bonobos can understand spoken language at the level of a two-year-old child.

Question 13

With whom do social relationships begin for all primates?
A) the mother
B) the father
C) siblings
D) cousins

Accepted Answer

For all primates, social relationships begin with the mother. Maternal bonds are crucial for the survival and development of infant primates, as mothers provide protection, nourishment, and learning opportunities.

Question 14

Which of these features is characteristic of New World monkeys?
A) three premolars
B) terrestrial
C) solitary
D) carnivorous

Accepted Answer

New World monkeys typically have three premolars, while Old World monkeys have two premolars.

Answer: B 
 New World monkeys are primarily arboreal, living in trees and rarely descending to the ground.

Answer: C 
 There are some social New World monkeys, but they generally have smaller social groups than Old World monkeys.

Answer: D 
 New World monkeys are primarily herbivores, with a diet of fruit, leaves, and insects. They are not carnivorous.

Question 15

From what group of animals do scientists believe primates developed?
A) insectivores
B) carnivores
C) reptiles
D) amphibians

Accepted Answer

Scientists believe that primates developed from insectivores, which are small, nocturnal mammals that primarily feed on insects.

Question 16

When did the hominoids first appear?
A) Miocene
B) Eocene
C) Oligocene
D) Holocene

Accepted Answer

Hominoids, which include apes and humans, first appeared during the Miocene epoch.

Question 17

How do primates differ from other mammals?
A) There is a set of physical traits that, as a group, are unique to the primates.
B) Primates have a number of traits that are not found in other mammal groups.
C) There is no way to distinguish a primate from other orders of mammals.
D) Primates have fewer distinguishing features than other orders of mammals.

Accepted Answer

Primates have a set of physical traits such as forward-facing eyes, opposable thumbs, and nails instead of claws, that distinguish them as a unique group of mammals.

Question 18

Primates have a stronger sense of __________ and a weaker sense of __________ than other mammals.
A) sight; smell
B) hearing; sight
C) taste; sight
D) hearing; taste

Accepted Answer

Primates, including humans, have highly developed vision but relatively poor sense of smell compared to other mammals.

Question 19

Hominins have a division of labor based on __________.
A) gender
B) birth order
C) body size
D) intelligence

Accepted Answer

Hominins, like modern humans, have a division of labor based on gender. This has been observed in early hominin species such as Australopithecus afarensis, where males likely engaged in hunting and scavenging while females may have focused on gathering and child-rearing. This division of labor based on gender is a common trait across many human societies throughout history.

Question 20

The oldest definite primates,adapids and omomyids,are classified as early __________.
A) prosimians
B) hominins
C) cercopithecines
D) anthropoids

Accepted Answer

Adapids and omomyids are classified as early prosimians, which refers to primates that are closer to their ancestral lineage and have more primitive characteristics compared to anthropoids (monkeys, apes, and humans) and cercopithecines (Old World monkeys).

Quiz 5: Primates: Past and Present

Which of these is a special dietary adaptation of the colobines?

As with humans,other primates need play time to help develop normally.This is because play __________.

What is one simple distinction between lorises and bush babies?

The Y-5 pattern of hominids refers to a feature on the __________.

Which of the following is absent among hominoids?

How are primate teeth specialized?

Which of the following traits do most primates share?

Which of these is a late Miocene ape?

Where is the best record of Oligocene anthropoid fossils located?

All primates have prehensile __________.

Which recently discovered species is providing a glimpse into the poorly understood period of hominoid evolution?

Captive bonobos show language comprehension abilities similar to that of a(n) __________.

With whom do social relationships begin for all primates?

Which of these features is characteristic of New World monkeys?

From what group of animals do scientists believe primates developed?

When did the hominoids first appear?

How do primates differ from other mammals?

Primates have a stronger sense of and a weaker sense of than other mammals.

Hominins have a division of labor based on __________.

The oldest definite primates,adapids and omomyids,are classified as early __________.