The document is an educational guide regarding primates, featuring questions and classifications based on a corresponding video. It explores various characteristics, social structures, and adaptations of different primate species, including baboons, macaques, gorillas, and tarsiers. Additionally, it highlights the evolutionary tree of primates, distinguishing between prosimians and anthropoids while prompting research on their endangered status.

1. https://www.3cmediasolutions.org/privid/47220?key=3554d41ec
0f61b1d5c411393ce95fab15979321f
Background
Answer these questions before watching the video by using your
text or searching online for answers. Then use the link above to
watch the film and answer the other questions.
1. All animals in this episode of Life are from the Primate
order. This is the full classification of the Primate order. List
one major characteristic that helps define each level.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
2. A cladogram for the major groups of primates is shown to
the right. The order is divided into two
categories: prosimians and anthropoids.
a. Which group evolved earliest?
b. Which group(s) evolved most recently?
c. Would humans be considered prosimians or anthropoids?

2. d. According to this cladogram, which group of primates is
most closely related to humans?
Primates are divided into two groups: Prosimians and
Anthropoids. This table summarizes the differences.
Prosimians
Anthropoids
Brain Size
Smaller
Larger
Nails vs. Claws
Claws
Nails
Vision
Partial binocular vision (both eyes facing the same direction
working together)
Binocular and color vision
Body Size
Smaller
Larger
Habitats
Tropical rainforests
Tropical rainforests, grasslands, temperate forests, wetlands
Diurnality
Either diurnal (daytime) or nocturnal (nighttime)
Almost all diurnal

3. Olfaction
Strong sense of smell
Weaker sense of smell
Opposable Digits
Some have opposable thumbs and big toes
All have opposable thumbs; Most have opposable big toes
Introduction
Answer these questions from the opening segment of the video.
3. Describe what is unique about primates in regard to these
characteristics:
a. Hands –
b. Eyes –
c. Intelligence –
d. Social Interactions –
e. Memory –
Hamadryas Baboons
4. Are these baboons prosimians or anthropoids?
5. Describe the social hierarchy of these baboons.
6. What is the cause of the conflict between the two troops of
baboons?

4. Japanese Macaque “Snow Monkeys”
7. Are these macaques prosimians or anthropoids?
8. These animals are the most northernly-living monkeys.
How are they built differently than other monkeys to survive the
harsh winters of the Japanese Alps?
9. Describe the social hierarchy of these macaques and how it
relates to the hot springs.
Western Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla
10. Are gorillas prosimians or anthropoids?
11. Describe the social hierarchy of these gorillas.
12. Would these gorillas be considered herbivores,
carnivores, or omnivores?

5. 13. How does the silverback male gorilla
communicate his territory to other gorillas?
Spectral Tarsier
Tarsius tarsier
14. Are tarsiers prosimians or anthropoids?
15. Tarsiers are completely carnivorous. What is
their food source?
16. The tarsiers have three sets of adaptations that
enable them to be successful nocturnal hunters. Describe the
adaptations tarsiers have in each of these body parts:
a. Eyeballs:
b. Ears:
c. Legs:
17. How do the tarsiers communicate with each
other? What reasons do they have to communicate?
18. The Lar Gibbons also communicate, but for a

6. different reason. Explain what.
Phayre’s Leaf Monkeys
Trachypithecus phayrei
19. Are the leaf monkeys prosimians or anthropoids?
20. Why are the baby leaf monkeys a bright orange
color?
21. Describe the social system of leaf monkeys,
especially in relation to caring for babies.
Ring-Tailed lemur
Lemur catta
22. Are the lemurs prosimians or anthropoids?
23. Explain how male and female ring-tailed lemurs
use scent markers as a means of communication.
24. How do males compete for the opportunity to
mate?

7. Orangutan
Pongo borneo
25. Are the Orangutans prosimians or anthropoids?
26. How long do Orangutans raise their young? Is
this unusual?
27. What skills does the mother teach her child before
it reaches adulthood?
Chacma baboons
Papio ursinus
28. Are the baboons prosimians or anthropoids?
29. Why is gathering food such a challenge for
Chacma baboons?
30. What unusual food source do the baboons eat, and
where do they find it?
31. What physical adaptations to the baboons have

8. that allows them to eat mussels?
White-faced Capuchins
Cebus capucinus
32. Are the capuchins prosimians or anthropoids?
33. If capuchin monkeys are not strong enough to
open clams, how do they eat them?
34. What do brown-tufted capuchins do differently?
Explain why this is considered a more advanced skill.
Chimpanzees
Pan troglodytes

9. 35. Are the chimpanzees prosimians or anthropoids?
36. Describe two examples of how the chimpanzees
use tools.
37. Describe the skill of nut-cracking. Why is this
considered a more advanced skill than the capuchins?
38. What unusual social characteristics do
chimpanzees exhibit?

10. Classification
Primates are an order of mammals; one that the human species
falls within. The order is divided into different families based
on characteristics such as presence of a prehensile tail,
opposable thumb, whether they are ground-dwelling or tree-
dwelling.
Order Marsupialia
“Pouched”
Tubulidentata
“Tube-Toothed”
Hyracoidea
“Short legs and tail”
Order Primates
“Opposable Thumbs”
Order Perissodactyla
“Odd-Toed Hooved”
Order Chiroptera
“Adapted for Flight”
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Lemurs

11. “Prosimians of Madagascar”
Tarsiers
“Big Eyes”
Old World Monkeys
“Non-Prehensile Tail”
New World Monkeys
“Prehensile Tail”
Gibbons
“Long Arms”
Orangutans
“Person of the Forest”
Gorillas
“The Largest Primates”
Chimpanzees and Bonobos
“Closest to Humans”
Gibbon
Lemur
Orangutan
Tarsier
Humans
“Man”

12. Order Eulipotyphla
“Insectivores with Snouts”
Rodentia
“Gnawing Hervivores”
Lemurs

13. Tarsiers
Old World Monkeys
New World Monkeys
Gibbons
Orangutans
Gorillas
Chimpanzees
Humans
IUCN Red list Status
Hamadryas Baboon
Japanese Macaque
Western Gorilla

14. Spectral Tarsier
Lar Gibbon
Owl Monkey

15. Ring-Tailed Lemur
Orangutan
Chacma Baboon

16. White-Faced Capuchin
Chimpanzee
Mark which category the primate is found and then look up their
endangered status on the IUCN red list and provide details.