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Exam 2
N/A
55
Anthropology
Undergraduate 3
03/08/2009

Additional Anthropology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
Species
Definition
A group of related organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile, viable offsrping
Term
Genus
Definition
A group of related species
Term
Primates
Definition
A group of mammals in the order Primates that have complex behavior, varied forms of locomotion, and a unique suite of traits, including larger brains, forward-facing eyes, fingernails, and reduced snouts
Term
Arboreal Hypothesis
Definition
The proposition that primates' unique suite of traits is an adaption to living in trees
Term
Morphology
Definition
Physical shape and appearance
Term
Diurnal
Definition
Refers to those organisms that normally are awake and active during daylight hours
Term
Sexual Dimorphisim
Definition
A difference in a physical attribute between the males and females of a species
Term
Dental Formula
Definition
The numerical description of a species' teeth, listing the number, in one quadrant of the jaws, or incisors, canines, premolars, and molars
Term
Diastema
Definition
A space between two teeth
Term
Sectorial (premolar)
Definition
Refers to a premolar adapted for cutting
Term
Lactation
Definition
The production and secretion of milk from a female mammal's mammary glands, providing a food source to the female's young
Term
Rhinarium
Definition
The naked surface around the nostrils, typically wet in mammals
Term
Heterodont Teeth (Homodont Teeth)
Definition
Mammals have 4 specific kinds of teeth... Homodont teeth are sharp teeth for grabbing food. Reptiles use as well
Term
Primitive Characteristics
Definition
Multiple tooth types- Incisors, canine, premolars, molars. Reduced number of teeth- Fewer premolars and molars
Term
Endothermic
Definition
Able to maintain a constant body temp.
-Fur
-Sweat Glands
-Ingest large quantities of food
-Circulatory system
-Blood vessels that dialate and constrict
- 4 chambered heart
Term
Adaptation of Primates
Definition
-An arboreal environment (bush, shrub, tree ecological niche
- When first started hunting they would eat bugs off the trees and leaves and then eventually had to chase and grab the bugs (not as easy).
- Conversion of eyes was a predatory adaptaion
Later these features were important for arboreal adaptations
Term
Characteristics of Primates
Definition
Defined as an order of animals that grasp (prehensile)
-Mobile wrist and ankle joints
-Retension of 5 digits on hands and feet
-Opposable thumbs (ability to roll thumg into palm)
-Tactile pads with sensory nerve fibers
-Nails instead of claws to protect the fiber pads (if primate were to hang the nails would protect the pad from spreading or slipping)
Term
Characteristics of Mammals
Definition
-Endothermic (hemothermic): able to obtain a constant body temp
-Heterodent teeth (four different types of teeth in mammals; incisors, canines, premolars, molars)
-Growth and Development, bones grow in length at cartilage growth plate, growth stops when epiphysis fuses
Term
R-selection
Definition
Animals produce large numbers of offspring but provide little care for those offspring
Term
K-Selection
Definition
Animals have few offspring but will provide much more care
Term
Visual Predation Hypothesis of Primate Origins (Matt Cartmill)
Definition
Argued that primates used to be predators: It started with hunting bugs off trees to having to chase and grab insects which lead to predatory adaptaion. Which was an important feature for arboreal adaptation
Term
Prehensile
Definition
The ability to grasp
Term
Post-Orbital Bar vs. Enclosed Orbits
Definition
A bone which runs around the eyesocket of most Prosimians. This is in contrast to the higher primates, Anthropoids, who have evolved fully enclosed sockets to protect their eyes
Term
Stereoscopic
Definition
Eyes face forward; color vision in higher forms
-reduced reliance on smell (smaller snout)
-Generalized diet (omnivores specific kind of food)
-Long digestion
-Long growth and development
-Longer life span
-Large brain
-Highly social
Term
Prosimii/ Strepsirhini
Definition
Lower primates. Ex. Lemurs, lorises, aye-ayes (note: most are nocturnal, solitary, arboreal, and insectivorous. Retain a tapetum eye, and rhinarium: wet nose with whiskers.)
Term
Tarsioidea
Definition
Tarsiformers/ Tarsiers- Superfamily.
-Small in size
-Elongated Limbs
-Nocturnal
-No tapetum
-Fovea, which provides important visual detail
Term
Anthropidea/ Haplorhini
Definition
Includes monkeys, apes, humans, tarsiers
-larger body size and brain
-reduced sense of smell
-post orbital closure
-mostly day active
-increased reliance on vision
-greater degree of color vision
-Diurnal
Term
Platyrrhini
Definition
New World Monkeys. Means flat nosed.
-Side facing nostrils
-Lack trichromatic vision
-Have 12 premolars instead of 8
-Have prehensile tails
-Form monogamous pair bonds
-Almost all arboreal
-Central and South America
Term
Catarrhini
Definition
Means narrow nose. One of the three major divisions of Haplorrhini, containing Old World monkeys and Apes.
-Dental Formula= 2.1.2.3
-Dont form pair bond
-Native to Africa and Asia
-Diurnal
-Tails not prehensile
-Flat fingernails
Term
Hominoidea
Definition
Ape.
-2 families within Hominoidea
-problem solving abilities
-use of tools
-no tail
-larger body size
-rely on vision
-suspensory hanging adaptation
-y5 cusp pattern of molars
-Arms longer than legs (but humans)
-Larger brain (smarties)
-Prolonged growth and development
Term
Cercopithecoidea
Definition
-most have tails
-omnivorous
-5-7 month gestation
-reach sexual maturity at 4-6 years
-single male lives with each group of females
-
Term
Homininae
Definition
-includes humans, gorillas, and chimps
Term
Dental Comb
Definition
Lemus and lorises possess this unique morphology of lower incisors and canines. Useful for scraping and grooming. Especially useful for extracting resins from trees.
Term
Madagascar
Definition
Lemurs only live here
Term
Omnivorous
Definition
Species that eat both plants and animals
Term
Folivorous
Definition
Appetite largely consisting of leaves
Term
Frugivorous
Definition
Appetite consists of fruits, leaves, and insects
Term
Insectivorous
Definition
Appetite consists of insects and other small creatures
Term
Arboreal Quadruped
Definition
Run along on branches and leap from one branch to another
-Challenge: hang on, keep balance
-Pladorymphe: tails as 5th limb
-Arms and legs equal length, short
-Long toes, fingers, and tail (macaques, most S. American monkeys)
Term
Terrestrial Quadruped
Definition
-Spends most of the day on the ground
-Challenge: avoid predators
-Long but equal length in arms and legs
-Digits shorter
-Short or absent tail (chimps, gorillas, baboons)
Term
Vertical Clinging and Leaping
Definition
Locomotion.
-jumping monkeys
-mark territory by scent
-scent glands are located on wrists and chest (lemurs, lorisidae)
Term
Suspensory
Definition
-Suspend the body beneath tree branches
-A specialized suspensory adaptation is true branchiation
-Able to hang on trees but are too heavy
-Arms longer than legs
-Fingers and toes are long (provide safety)
Term
Branchiation
Definition
A specialized suspensory adaptation
Term
Knuckle Walking
Definition
-Specialized form of locomotion
-Weight supported on the middle
-Fold their fingers to walk
Term
Y-5 molar cusp pattern
Definition
A Y-shaped groove is dominant with the fork of the Y directed toward the outside of the tooth
Term
Bilophodont Molars
Definition
Refers to lower molars, in old world monkeys, that have two ridges
Term
Sagittal Crest
Definition
Is a ridge of bone running lengthwise along the midline of the top of the skull
Term
Solitary
Definition
Nocturnal prosimians, orangutangs
Term
Estrus
Definition
Changes that are introduced by reproductive hormones that attract the opposite sex
Term
Dominance Heirarchy
Definition
Helps maintain social order, males are in charge of the troop for protection. Also female dominance exsists as well, in charge of food and food distribution
Term
Mother-Infant bond
Definition
Important for learning. Mother wants to teach offspring about predators, diet, quantity, and location
-Learning
-Observation and Imitation
-Play, important in primates lives
-Communication, learn how to play nice, vocalization, gestures, explore and behavior
Term
Alloparenting (Aunt Behavior)
Definition
Flo watches mother have another offspring and imitates her behavior for her own fyi when she has her own offspring
Term
Grooming
Definition
Important social behavior, and hygenical importance
Term
Evolutionary Ecology/Sociobiology
Definition
-Goal: interpret behavior in an evolutionary perspective
-Caution: this does not mean that certain genes control specific behavior
-Ex: there is not a gene for aggression nor cooperation
Term
Primate Social Structure
Definition
-Advantages: avoid predation, defense of resources, access to mates, assistance in rearing and protecting offspring.
-Disadvantages: Increased likelyhood of intergroup competition for resources, greater chance of aggressive behavior and violence. Especially when the group gets too large
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