Prosimians are a suborder of primates and include lemurs, lorises and tarsiers. Although specialised in many respects, living prosimians generally retain more primitive features than do anthropoids (the other suborder of primates); and in many aspects of teeth, skulls and limbs, they reserve a morphology similar to that found in primates of the Eocene epoch, 50 to 40 million years ago. These primitive features have led many scientists to believe that the study of prosimian behaviour might give us some insights into the behaviour of ancestral primates and primate origins. I am going to explore what has been the major ‘classic’ interpretation of the behaviour of the earliest primates in terms of activity rhythm, locomotion and social behaviour based on the study of modern prosimians and how more recent studies have changed our views on these. Further I am going to explore the major contending views for ecological factors that brought about prosimian origins.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Primate Evolution
- Primate Origins
- Activity Rhythm
- Locomotion
- Social Behaviour
- Ecological Factors of Prosimian Origins
- Nocturnal Activity
- Locomotion and Leap Behaviour
- Social Organisation
- Theories of Primate Origins
- Arboreal Theory
- Visual-Predation Hypothesis
- Angiosperm Exploitation Hypothesis
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work explores the evolution of primates, focusing particularly on prosimians. It examines the classic interpretation of the earliest primate behaviour in terms of activity rhythm, locomotion, and social behaviour, as well as how modern studies have modified these views. The text also investigates the major competing theories on the ecological factors driving prosimian origins.
- Evolutionary history and origins of primates
- Behavioural adaptations of early primates
- The role of nocturnal activity and locomotion in primate evolution
- Social organization and its influence on primate evolution
- Competing theories on the ecological drivers of primate origins
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Primate Evolution: This chapter introduces the suborder of primates known as prosimians, highlighting their primitive features and their importance in understanding ancestral primates.
- Primate Origins: This chapter delves into the classic interpretation of the behaviour of early primates, examining their activity rhythm, locomotion, and social behaviour based on the study of modern prosimians. It also discusses how more recent studies have revised these understandings.
- Ecological Factors of Prosimian Origins: This chapter explores the various theories concerning the ecological factors that contributed to the emergence of prosimians. It discusses the influence of nocturnal activity, locomotion patterns, and social organisation in shaping prosimian evolution.
- Theories of Primate Origins: This chapter presents the three main theories of primate origins - the arboreal theory, the visual-predation hypothesis, and the angiosperm exploitation hypothesis - analysing their strengths, weaknesses, and potential overlaps. It discusses how these theories can be combined to provide a more comprehensive understanding of primate evolution.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work focuses on key concepts such as prosimians, primate origins, nocturnal behaviour, locomotion, social organisation, arboreal theory, visual-predation hypothesis, angiosperm exploitation hypothesis, and evolutionary convergence.
- Quote paper
- BA (Oxon), Dip Psych (Open) Christine Langhoff (Author), 2003, Primate Evolution, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/80251
