Systematics and general signs of primates. Primates - interesting facts about the order of animals related to humans
More than 400 species of primates live in nature, and on this site we will try to describe them all. The most famous of them are the great apes. The sizes of primates are variable: body length is from 8.5-10-12 cm (tarsiers, lemurs, tupai) to 180 cm (gorillas).
Primates lead a predominantly arboreal lifestyle (some tupai, ring-tailed lemur and baboons). Monkeys keep in small, rarely large groups. Activity is usually diurnal.
According to the nature of nutrition, they tend to be omnivorous with various deviations towards herbivory or carnivory, depending on the species, season and habitat. On this site we plan to publish descriptions of all types of monkeys, both the most famous and very rare ones.
PRIMATES (Primates), an order of mammals, which includes humans, great and other apes, as well as prosimians. Perhaps it should be attributed to him and stupid from South-East Asia. The name "primates", meaning "first", "leading", was given to the detachment by K. Linnaeus, the father of modern biological systematics.
Primates mainly live in trees, for the movement of which their limbs are also adapted. They are long and thin, and the hands and feet are of a grasping type: the thumbs are usually opposed to the rest. The limbs rotate easily at the hip and shoulder joints; the anterior and, to a lesser extent, the posterior may be turned with the palm and sole inward and even upward. The teeth of more primitive primates (in particular, tupai and lemurs) are covered with sharp tubercles and are adapted for grinding, in addition to plant food, also the hard covers of insects. Their muzzle is elongated and pointed. In monkeys, the muzzle is shortened; the two branches of the mandible anteriorly merged without a seam, and the teeth bear rounded cusps and are adapted for grinding the soft parts of plants. The upper fangs are usually well developed, especially in males, and are used in fights.
The reproductive system of primates is similar to the human, except for small details. Many monkeys have a double discoidal placenta, but in tarsier and anthropoids it is formed by a single disc, like in humans. Lemurs have a diffuse, persistent placenta. As a rule, one cub is born.
The sense of smell in primates, unlike most mammals, is poorly developed, but vision and hearing are sharp. The eyes are located in the anterior plane of the face, which provides a wide binocular field, i.e. stereoscopic vision. Monkeys, especially anthropoids, have a well-developed brain; it looks like a human, but it is simpler.
Zoologists divide the order of primates in different ways. In the system proposed here, the order is divided into two suborders: prosimians and higher primates, i.e. apes and humans. Each suborder is divided into three superfamilies, which in turn include one or more families.
Prosimiae (half-monkeys). Tupaiidae (tupai). Tupai are often classified as insectivorous, but most likely they are close to the ancestral form of all primates and can be considered a special superfamily of prosimians. They have claws on their paws, five fingers are able to move apart widely. The chewing surface of the molars bears a W-shaped ridge. The eye sockets are surrounded by a solid bony ring, like in lemurs. Fossil tupai, close to modern forms, were found in Mongolia and date back to the Lower Oligocene. detachment primate monkey
Lemuroidea (lemurs). The oldest lemur-like primates are known from the Paleocene and Eocene North America and Europe. The lemur family (Lemuridae) includes the lemurs of Madagascar. Only there is found the only species of the family of bats (Daubentoniidae) - aye-aye. Fossils found in France and dating from the Eocene have shown that this family was earlier more widely distributed. Loris (Lorisidae) include lorises, pottos and galagos that live in Southeast Asia and tropical Africa.
Tarsioidea (tarsiers). At present, this important superfamily is represented by only three species in the Malay Archipelago, but in the Eocene similar forms were common in Europe and North America. In many ways, they approach the higher primates.
Anthropoidea (higher primates, monkeys). Ceboidea (broad-nosed, New World monkeys). It is possible that this superfamily, independently of other apes, descended from the ancient lemuroids. Their nostrils are separated by a wide septum, and there are three premolar (two-apex) teeth. In marmosets (Callithricidae), except for Callimico, the last molars on both jaws are absent, and fingers, except for the first toe, are armed with claws in all species. Capuchins (Cebidae) have flat nails on all fingers, but in many cases the tail is tenacious, grasping; the thumbs are often very small or even absent. One fossil from the Lower Miocene of Patagonia is very similar to modern forms.
Cercopithecoidea (lower narrow-nosed, or dog-like , monkey). Old World monkeys of the marmoset family (Cercopithecidae) have only two premolar teeth and their tails are never prehensile. Monkeys, mangabeys, macaques, baboons, and other marmosets (subfamily Cercopithecinae) have cheek pouches. They feed on plants, insects and other small animals. Gverets, langurs and other representatives of the subfamily of thin-bodied monkeys (Colobinae) do not have cheek pouches. They feed mainly on leaves, and their stomachs are made up of three sections. The ancestors of the Old World monkeys appeared no later than the early Oligocene.
Hominoidea (humanoid). This superfamily includes three families of anurans: Hylobatidae (gibbons), Pongidae (humanoids), and Hominidae (humans). The similarity between them is no less than within the groups of dog-like and broad-nosed monkeys: the dental systems, the structure of the brain, the placenta, embryonic development and even serological reactions. Fossil forms that could give rise to the entire superfamily are known from Egypt and date from the Lower Oligocene (Propliopithecus); the oldest remains of gibbon found in the Miocene deposits Central Europe; early anthropoids are represented by many finds of Miocene and Pliocene age (Dryopithecus and Sivapithecus), and the genus Paleosimia, very similar to modern orangutans, is described from the Sivalik Formation (Upper Miocene) in northern India.
The class of mammals is characterized by live birth, feeding the cub with milk, carrying it in the uterus. All representatives of this class are homoiothermic, that is, their body temperature is constant. In addition, their metabolic rate is high. In addition to the middle and inner ear, all mammals also have an outer ear. Females have mammary glands.
Primates (semi-monkeys and monkeys) of all mammals are perhaps the greatest richness and variety of forms. However, despite the differences between them, many structural features of their bodies are similar. They have developed in a long process of evolution as a result of an arboreal lifestyle.
Primate limbs
Primates are animals with a five-fingered grasping limb, well developed. It is adapted to the climbing of the representatives of this detachment along the branches of trees. All of them have a clavicle, as well as a completely separated ulnar and radius which provides a variety of movements and mobility of the forelimb. The thumb is also movable. It can be contrasted in many species with the rest. The terminal phalanges of the fingers are provided with nails. In primate forms that have claw-like nails, or those that have claws on only some of the fingers, the thumb is characterized by the presence of a flat nail.
The structure of primates
When moving on the surface of the earth, they rely on the entire foot. In primates with tree life associated with a reduction in the sense of smell, as well as good development organs of hearing and vision. They have 3-4 turbinates. Primates - whose eyes are directed forward, the eye sockets are separated from the temporal fossa by the periorbital ring (lemurs, tupai), or by a bone septum (monkeys, tarsiers). In lower primates, there are 4-5 groups of vibrissae (tactile hairs) on the muzzle, in higher ones - 2-3. In monkeys, as well as in humans, skin ridges are developed on the entire plantar and palmar surface. However, the semi-monkeys have them only on the pads. The variety of functions that the forelimbs have, as well as the active life of primates, led to strong development they have a brain. And this means an increase in the volume of the skull in these animals. However, only higher primates have large, well-developed cerebral hemispheres with many convolutions and furrows. In the lower ones, the brain is smooth, there are few convolutions and furrows in it.
Hairline and tail
In species of this order, the hairline is thick. Prosimians have an undercoat, but in most primates it is poorly developed. The coat and skin of many species are brightly colored, the eyes are yellow or brown. Their tail is long, but there are also tailless and short-tailed forms.
Food
Primates are animals that feed mainly on a mixed diet, in which plant matter predominates. Some species are insectivorous. The stomach in primates, due to mixed type food, simple. They have 4 types of teeth - canines, incisors, large (molars) and small (premolars) molars, as well as molars with 3-5 tubercles. A complete change of teeth occurs in primates, it applies to both permanent and milk teeth.
Body dimensions
Significant variations are noted in the body size of representatives of this order. The smallest primates are mouse lemurs, while the growth of gorillas reaches 180 cm and above. The body mass of males and females differs - males are usually larger, although there are many exceptions to this rule. The family of some monkeys consists of several females and a male. Since body weight is an advantage for the latter, there is a natural selection associated with its increase. For example, a male Hanuman can assemble a whole harem of 20 females - a very large family. Primates are forced to guard their harem from other males. At the same time, in the owner of the family, the body weight reaches 160% of the female's weight. In other species, in which males usually mate with only one female (for example, gibbons), representatives of different sexes do not differ in size. very weakly expressed in lemurs.
In the struggle for paternity, not only the size of the body in such a detachment as primates plays an important role. These are animals whose fangs serve as powerful weapons for them. Males use them in aggressive displays and fights.
Primate reproduction and offspring
Primates breed throughout the year. Usually one cub is born (lower forms may have 2-3). Large species of primates breed less frequently, but live longer than their smaller relatives.
Already at the age of a year, mouse lemurs are able to breed. Every year, two cubs are born. The body weight of each of them is about 6.5 g. Pregnancy lasts 2 months. 15 years is a longevity record for this species. The female gorilla, on the contrary, becomes sexually mature only by the age of 10. One cub is born, whose body weight is 2.1 kg. Pregnancy lasts 9 months, after which a second pregnancy can occur only after 4 years. Gorillas usually live up to 40 years.
Common to different, with significant species differences, is a small offspring. The growth rates of young animals in representatives of this order are very low, much lower than those observed in other mammals with a similar body weight. It is difficult to say what is the reason for this peculiarity. Perhaps it should be sought in the size of the brain. The fact is that the brain tissues are the most energy-intensive in the body. In large primates, it is observed high level metabolism, which reduces the rate of development of reproductive organs, as well as body growth.
prone to infanticide
In primates, due to low rates of reproduction, a tendency to infanticide is expressed. Often, males kill the cubs that the female gave birth to other males, since the lactating individual cannot conceive again. Males that are at their peak physical development, in breeding attempts are limited. Therefore, they do everything possible to preserve their genotype. A male monkey, for example, Hanuman, has only 800 days out of 20 years of life to procreate.
Lifestyle
The primate order is generally tree-dwelling, however there are semi-terrestrial and terrestrial species. Representatives of this detachment have a daytime lifestyle. Usually it is gregarious, rarely solitary or paired. They mainly live in subtropical and tropical forests Asia, Africa and America, and are also found in high mountain areas.
Primate classification
Approximately 200 species are known modern primates. There are 2 suborders (monkeys and semi-monkeys), 12 families and 57 genera. According to the classification, the most common at present, the primate order includes tupai, forming an independent family. These primates, together with tarsiers and lemurs, form a suborder of semi-monkeys. They connect through lemurs with modern primates, recalling what kind of ancestors the latter had in ancient times.
Primates: evolution
It is believed that the ancestors of modern primates were insectivorous primitive mammals, similar to the tupai that exist today. Their remains were found in Mongolia, in the Upper Cretaceous deposits. Apparently, these ancient species lived in Asia, from which they settled in other places in North America and the Old World. Here these primates developed into tarsiers and lemurs. The evolution of the original forms and the New World, apparently, was from primitive long-legged creatures (some authors consider ancient lemurs to be the ancestors of monkeys). Independently of the apes found in the Old World, American primates arose. Their ancestors from North America penetrated into South. Here they specialized and developed, adapting to an exclusively arboreal lifestyle. In many biological and anatomical ways, humans are superior primates. We constitute a separate family of people with the genus man and only one species - the modern intelligent.
The practical importance of primates
Modern primates are of great practical importance. Since ancient times, they have attracted the attention of man as funny living creatures. Monkeys were the subject of hunting. In addition, these mammals were put up for sale for home entertainment or in the zoo. Primates are even eaten today! Aborigines still eat the meat of many monkeys today. The meat of the semi-monkeys is also considered very tasty. The skins of certain species are used today for dressing various things.
A detachment of primates in last years acquires everything greater value in medical and biological experiments. These animals discover great resemblance with a person according to a variety of anatomical and physiological characteristics. And not only great primates have this similarity, but also lower ones. Representatives of this detachment are even susceptible to the same diseases that we are (tuberculosis, dysentery, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, tonsillitis, measles, etc.), which proceed in general in the same way as we do. That is why some of their organs are used today in the treatment of people (in particular, the kidneys of green monkeys, macaques and other monkeys - a nutrient medium for growing viruses, which, after appropriate processing, then turn into a polio vaccine).
Order of primates
(Primates)*
* A detachment of primates (Primates "leading") unites almost 200 species, including humans. Primates naturally fall into two suborders of prosimians and monkeys, whose representatives differ markedly appearance, the level of higher nervous activity, ecology, and many other features.
Of the ancient peoples, apparently, only the Indians and Egyptians had some sympathy for monkeys. The ancient Egyptians carved their images from durable porphyry and often gave their gods the appearance of monkeys; the ancient Indians, just like their current descendants, built special houses and temples for monkeys. King Solomon, according to the biblical legend, ordered monkeys from Ophir. The Romans kept them for pleasure in their homes and also studied them from their corpses. internal structure human body; they were amused by the ridiculous permissiveness of these animals, and for fun they forced the monkeys to fight with wild animals in the circus. However, the proud Romans never equated monkeys with themselves and considered them to be completely beasts, just like Solomon. The Arabs look at things differently: they see in monkeys the descendants of wicked people, for whom there is nothing sacred or worthy of respect, who are alien to the concept of good and evil, who do not come close to any other creatures created by the Lord God and who are cursed from that the day when they, by the judgment of the Almighty, are turned from humans into monkeys. These creatures are condemned by Allah to eternal times to wear a disgusting combination of human likeness and demonic appearance. We Europeans tend to see in monkeys a caricature of a person, and not creatures that resemble us in the structure of their bodies. We find ourselves more attractive to those apes that least resemble us, while those species in which the resemblance to humans is more pronounced are almost always disgusting to us. Our dislike for these creatures is based not only on their outward appearance, but also on their mental properties. We are equally struck by both the similarity of monkeys to humans and their difference from us. It is enough to cast one glance at the skeletons of man and monkey to notice very significant differences in them, but upon careful study, these differences are not at all as striking as they seem at first glance. In any case, it is completely unfair to consider monkeys as creatures offended by nature, as some writers frivolously do.
The size of the monkeys is very diverse: a gorilla is as tall as big man, the marmoset is not more squirrels*.
* The body length of primates is from 8.5 cm (mouse lemur, tarsiers) to 180 cm (gorilla), weight, respectively, from 45 g to 300 kg.
And the structure of their body is quite diverse. In general terms, monkeys can be divided into three groups: anthropoid, dog-like and vex-like, which in most cases characterizes their figure better than long descriptions. Some of them are massive, others are slender, others are clumsy, and some are very graceful. The limbs of monkeys are short and muscular or thin and long. In most primates long tails, but some have a short tail, and there are completely tailless monkeys. The hairline is just as varied: some monkeys have liquid and short hair, on the other hand, the coat is thick and long, so that it forms real fur. The color of the coat is most often dark, but there are monkeys whose hairline is brightly colored in places. Naked places on the body are sometimes also extremely brightly colored. Among the monkeys there are also albinos. In Siam, in the Land of the White Elephant, where albinos are generally in vogue, white monkeys are honored very highly.
Despite the external diversity of monkeys, the internal structure of their body is rather monotonous. In their skeleton, there are from 12 to 16 thoracic vertebrae, from 4-9 lumbar, from 2-5 sacral and from 3-33 caudal. The clavicle is always strongly developed; the bones of the forearm do not fuse and are very mobile; the bones of the wrist are elongated, and the knuckles of the fingers are sometimes rather short; on the hind limbs, the thumb is very strongly developed, which, like human hand, can be opposed to all other fingers. The skull comes in quite a variety of forms, depending on the development of the facial and brain parts; the eyes are located in front and lie in depressions surrounded by strongly protruding bones; the zygomatic arches protrude a little. dental system monkeys are complete: on each side of the jaw, both upper and lower, two incisors are seen, one developed canine, two or three false-rooted and three real molars, with flat-tuberculate tops. In short, monkey teeth are not much different from human teeth**.
* * The most noticeable external difference between the simian dental system and the human one is the prominent large fangs and diastemas - gaps in the dentition, where these fangs enter when the jaws are closed.
Among the muscles, the muscles of the hand are especially remarkable, since they represent a less complex system of muscles than on the human hand. The device of the larynx is such that it does not allow monkeys to diversify sounds to the extent that a person does. Bubble-like swelling of the windpipe in some monkeys contributes to the formation of sharp and howling sounds. In some species of monkeys, the development of cheek pouches, i.e. special extensions of the inner walls of the mouth, which are connected to the oral cavity by a special opening and serve to temporarily store food. In monkeys and baboons, the cheek pouches are more developed than in other monkeys. These sacs descend below the jaw and are absent in the anthropoid and New World monkeys.
Monkeys are often called four-armed and are contrasted with two-armed, i.e. to humans, referring to the structure of their fore and hind limbs. Without any doubt, monkeys differ significantly from humans in the structure of arms and legs, but the difference is with anatomical point the view is not particularly great. If we compare the arms and legs of a person with the arms and legs of a monkey, it turns out that they are arranged according to the same type. The thumb, opposite to other fingers, is found in humans only on the hands, in marmosets - only on the hind limbs, and in other monkeys - on both the front and hind limbs *.
* In a number of forms that have mastered brachiation, movement by alternate suspension on the limbs, the large palaea on the hands can be greatly reduced or absent altogether. Such are cats. colobus, gibbons, some other tree monkeys.
It would be unfair to deny the difference between the structure of the human legs and the hind limbs of monkeys, but they should not be separated on this basis.
Oken, comparing a monkey with a man, writes the following: “Monkeys are like a man in everything immoral and bad: they are evil, hypocritical, insidious, obscene and thieving. Monkeys cannot be credited with a single virtue, and they do not bring any benefit to man. Both morally and physically, they are only the worst side person".
It cannot be denied that the description is almost true. However, one must admit that the monkeys have good qualities. It is rather difficult to judge the moral properties of the entire detachment, because numerous families and genera differ significantly from each other. It is quite true that monkeys are evil, cunning, angry, vindictive, sensual, quarrelsome, irritable - in a word, subject to many affects. But one should not lose sight of their understanding, gaiety, meek disposition, affectionateness and gullibility towards a person, their ability to invent occupations for themselves, their amusing seriousness, courage and constant concern for the welfare of their comrades; their courage in protecting society from the strongest enemies. But most of all they developed love for their young; they often transfer this love to weak brethren and cubs of other animals.
The mental development of primates is not so much superior to the mental abilities of other mammals, as is usually thought. Of course, their amazing hands give the monkeys a significant advantage over other animals, and their movements and actions seem more perfect than they really are. Monkeys are very intelligent, and the agility that most of them have makes it easy for them to learn some rather complex actions. They should be considered among the most intelligent animals. They have an excellent memory and know how to use their experience. Monkeys are well aware of their benefits, they discover a wonderful art in pretense and know how to hide the malicious intentions that are ripening in their head. Monkeys are able to deftly avoid dangers and very successfully come up with means of protection. They notice a rather strong development of heart feelings: they are able to love and become attached to other beings, they are often grateful and disposed towards those persons who do them good. The baboon who lived with me always showed affection for me, although he easily got along with other people, but this last friendship was not strong, since he often bit his new friend, noticing that I was approaching them. Their love, however, is also fickle. One has only to look at the face of a monkey, as you will immediately be convinced of how often its state of mind changes. The movement of the face is amazing. A wide variety of expressions are noticed on it in quick succession: joy and sadness, kindness and anger, lust and calmness - in a word, all kinds of affects and passions. It should not be forgotten, however, that this rapid change in facial expression does not in the least prevent the monkeys from jumping, climbing, and doing all sorts of gymnastic exercises at the same time.
It is remarkable that all monkeys, despite their intelligence, can be easily deceived. Passion in them almost always triumphs over prudence. If they are in a state of strong excitement, then they no longer notice the grossest trap and completely forget about caution, carried away by the desire to satisfy their passion. This observation also applies to the most intelligent monkeys, but no conclusion can be drawn from this about the weakness of their mental faculties. Doesn't the same thing happen to people sometimes? Paleontological research indicates that in former times the distribution of monkeys was more extensive than now. Now they live only in hot countries of the globe, as they need a warm climate throughout the year. Some baboons are climbing into mountainous countries to a considerable height and there they tolerate a rather low temperature, but all other monkeys are very sensitive to cold *.
* Tibetan (Masasa thibetana) and Japanese macaques (M. fuscata), mountain rhesuses (M. assamensis) live in areas of Asia with temperate climate and quite severe - frosty and snowy - in winter. It is these macaques that are considered the most cold-resistant monkeys.
Every part of the world has its own special breeds of monkeys, and only one species lives in both Africa and Asia at the same time**.
* * Brehm probably means hamadryas (Papio hamachyas), but he, like other baboons, is an African monkey, and enters the south of the Arabian Peninsula only at the edge of the range, there are no monkeys at all in Australia.
In Europe, one species of monkeys is found, and then in a small number of specimens: they live on the Rock of Gibraltar under the protection of English guns. However, Gibraltar is not the northernmost area where monkeys are found: the Japanese monkey lives in the north up to 37 degrees northern latitude***.
* * * The Japanese macaque is distributed up to the northern tip of about. Honshu - up to 41 degrees north latitude
AT southern hemisphere monkeys reach 35 degrees south latitude, and then only in the Old World. In America, the area of distribution of monkeys extends from 28 degrees north latitude to 29 degrees south latitude.
The area of distribution of each species of monkeys is rather limited, although it can be seen that in remote countries of the same part of the world there are breeds of monkeys that are very similar to each other.
Most monkeys live in forests; only a few species prefer rocky highlands. The body structure of these animals is so well adapted to climbing that large trees make up favorite place their stay; monkeys living on rocks climb trees only in case of emergency.
Monkeys are undoubtedly among the most living and mobile mammals. Having gone out to prey, they do not remain a moment at rest; this mobility is due, among other things, to the variety of their food. Monkeys eat everything edible, but the main part of their food is still vegetable matter: fruits, bulbs, tubers, roots, seeds, nuts, buds, leaves and succulent stems. They also do not refuse insects, and the eggs of birds and the chicks themselves are a favorite delicacy for many monkeys. During their search, they are constantly looking at something, grabbing, plucking, sniffing and biting off, and then either eat it or throw it away. Monkeys run, jump, somersault, if necessary, and swim. The movements made by them on the branches of trees surpass any description. Only the great monkeys and baboons are a little clumsy, while the rest are real acrobats. Jumping 6-8 meters long is nothing for them. From the top of the tree, they easily jump to the end of a branch 10 meters below. This branch bends strongly from the push, then straightens up and gives the monkey a push up, and from this push it is. like an arrow, it pierces the air, acting with its tail and legs like a rudder. Having thus jumped safely onto another tree, the animal quickly makes its way further, skillfully avoiding the most terrible thorns. A climbing plant serves him as a very convenient ladder, a tree trunk - a torn road. Monkeys climb back and forth, up and down their heads, along and under branches. If a monkey falls from the top of a tree, it will grab a branch in mid-flight and calmly wait until it stops swinging. Then the monkey will climb it and climb further. If the branch breaks off, the monkey, falling, will grab another. This one will not survive either - a third one will fall, but by the way, it does not care to fall to the ground. What cannot be grabbed with hands, monkeys grab with their hind limbs, and American monkeys with their tail.
The monkeys of the New World have a tail, one might say, the fifth, most important limb: on it they hang, swing, they get food from crevices and crevices; by means of it the monkey climbs up the branch; even during sleep, the tail does not loosen its contraction.
But the ease and grace in the movements of the monkeys are noticeable only when climbing. Even the large tailless monkeys of the Old World climb perfectly, although their movements are more similar to those of a person than other monkeys. Their gait is more or less heavy and clumsy.
Monkeys and marmosets walk better than others, especially monkeys, which run so fast that it is difficult for a dog to overtake them; baboons hobble when walking in the most amusing way. The gait of the so-called great apes differs from the human one. When walking, a person touches the ground with his entire foot, while monkeys lean on the bent fingers of their front hands and clumsily throw their bodies forward, throwing their hind limbs between the front ones, which are somewhat spaced apart for this. This movement is similar to the gait of a person on crutches. In this case, the monkey leans on the clenched fists of the forelimbs * and on the outer edge of the foot of the hind limbs, the middle fingers of which are often bent, and the thumb is set aside to serve as a support. Gibbons apparently can't walk like that.
* When walking on the ground, great apes do not clench their hands into fists, but simply bend the two terminal phalanges of the fingers, relying on the penultimate ones.
When walking, they often rely only on their hind limbs, spreading their fingers as far as possible and tilting their thumbs until they form. right angle with feet. At the same time, the spaced forelimbs serve as a balance bar for them and straighten as the speed of movement increases.
Almost all monkeys can stand and walk for a short time on their hind legs alone, but when they lose their balance, they fall on their exposed forelimbs; when moving quickly (especially when they are being pursued), all the monkeys run on all fours.
Some species of monkeys are excellent swimmers, while others, on the contrary, cannot swim and quickly drown when they fall into the water. Among the first are monkeys, which, in my presence, quickly and calmly swam across the Blue Nile**.
* * Some species of macaques and proboscises are ecologically associated with the coasts and are apparently the best swimmers among primates (not counting humans).
To the latter, probably baboons and howler monkeys. Before our eyes, one baboon, whom we decided to bathe, drowned. Monkeys who cannot swim are afraid of water in the highest degree.
The limbs of monkeys are very strong, and therefore these animals can lift weights that a person would not be able to do. The baboon who lived with me could hang for several minutes on one arm and easily lift his fat body. Public life monkeys is highly interesting to the observer. Very few primate species lead a solitary lifestyle, most of them live in packs***.
* * * The basis of flocks of primates are family clans, consisting of several generations of relatives. Unrelated, adjoining individuals are usually in the minority in the pack. The clan has a common territory, on the borders of which it contacts with other clans and singles, conflicts with "neighbors", "exchanges" members. A strict hierarchy is maintained within the clan. An overgrown clan can split up. Many monkeys are also characterized by small family cells, consisting of a male, female and their cubs. Among the semi-monkeys there are species that normally lead a solitary lifestyle.
Each flock chooses certain locality larger or smaller. The choice of residence depends on many circumstances, however, the abundance of food plays here leading role. Groves near human habitation are very readily occupied by monkeys. They, as has been said, have no particular respect for other people's property. Maize and sugar plantations, kitchen gardens, melons, banana groves are preferred by all others.
The monkey language is quite rich. They make a wide variety of sounds to express their feelings. A person soon learns to understand these sounds. Particularly characteristic is the cry of horror from the leader, prompting the entire flock to flee; it is rather difficult to describe it and almost impossible to imitate it. It consists of a series of staccato, trembling and inharmonic sounds, the meaning of which is enhanced by the distortion of the monkey's face. When this loud cry is heard, the whole flock takes flight; mothers call for cubs, which instantly cling to them, and females rush with a precious burden to the nearest tree or rock. Only when the leader calms down, the flock gathers again and returns.
The presence of courage in monkeys cannot be denied. The larger ones bravely fight with beasts of prey and even with a man, although the outcome of the struggle for monkeys is predetermined. Even monkeys, despite their small stature, rush at the enemy when they are angry or driven into a dead end. Teeth great monkeys, such as baboons and anthropoids, are terrible weapon, and therefore these animals can safely begin to fight with enemies. The females go into battle for the most part for their own protection or the protection of their young, but they show the same courage as the males. With large baboons, the natives do not start a fight without a gun, and in the fight against a gorilla, even firearms do not always ensure victory. In any case, the unparalleled fury of these monkeys, which increases their strength, is extremely dangerous, and their dexterity often deprives the enemy of the opportunity to deliver the final blow to them. Monkeys defend themselves with their hands and teeth: they hit, scratch and bite.
Females bring one cub, rarely two; this young creature is very ugly, with limbs that seem twice as long as those of adults, and a face so covered with wrinkles and folds that it looks more like the face of an old man than the physiognomy of a child. But the mother loves this freak very dearly; she caresses him and caresses him very touchingly, although in our eyes these caresses and pampering look ridiculous. Soon after birth, the cub learns to hang itself on the mother's chest, hugging the neck with the forelimbs, and the sides with the hind limbs; in this position, he does not interfere with the mother's running and climbing and can safely suckle. Older cubs jump on the shoulders and back of their parents. At first, the cub is rather insensitive and indifferent, and at this time the mother's love is most evident. She is always fiddling with the baby: either she licks him, or she looks for insects from him, then she presses the baby to her, holds him in front of her, constantly puts him on her chest or shakes him, as if wanting to lull him to sleep. Pliny seriously claims that females, full of tender feelings, often strangle their cubs in strong hugs, but no one has seen this in our time. After some time, the young monkey becomes more independent and requires some freedom, which, however, he receives. The mother releases the cub from her arms and allows him to play pranks and play with other monkeys, but she looks after him very vigilantly, accompanies him everywhere and allows him only what is allowed. At the slightest danger, she rushes to her cub and with a special sound invites him to jump on her chest. Disobedience is punished with pinches, kicks, and sometimes slaps; however, it rarely comes to this, because in obedience, baby monkeys can serve as an example to many human children. Most often, the order of the mother is executed at her first sound.
Until now, it has not yet been established with accuracy at what age a monkey matures, but it goes without saying that in large species time is longer than for small ones. Monkeys and small American monkeys become adults, probably at the fourth or fifth year of life, baboons at 9-13, and the great ape, presumably, even later; at least she loses her milk teeth at almost the same age as a person. In the wild, monkeys seem to seldom get sick: no one has ever heard of epidemics between them *.
It is also not known how long they live, but it must be assumed that gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees live almost as long as humans, and maybe longer**.
* * Great apes lived up to 45-60 years in captivity. In nature, the maximum life span is less - 35-40 years.
Here, in Europe, the monkeys do not fare well, and, despite all precautions, they mostly die of consumption of the lungs. The sight of a sick monkey is most pathetic. The poor animal, which used to be so cheerful, sits quietly and with a plaintive, pleading, almost human look looks at the people who are looking after it. The closer the monkey is to death, the quieter and more submissive it becomes, everything brutal in it disappears, and more noble qualities are revealed more clearly. She is very grateful for all the help provided to her, sees her benefactor in the doctor, willingly takes medicine, even allows surgical operations without defending herself from them.
As already mentioned, in hot countries where there are settlements and fields, monkeys do more harm than good. The meat of some monkeys is eaten. Fur skins are dressed, the skin is used for bags and other products. But this benefit is insignificant in comparison with the enormous harm that monkeys cause in forests, fields and gardens, and therefore one is surprised at the Hindus who consider them sacred beings, protect and care for them, as if in fact they are demigods.
It is highly interesting to end the general article on monkeys with a historical survey of the attitude of ancient peoples towards these animals. The following pages have been compiled by my friend Dumichen, the famous explorer of antiquity, who has been so kind as to set forth here all that is known about monkeys as a result of the study of the monuments of ancient Egypt.
"The walls of ancient Egyptian tombstones are known to be covered with many drawings relating to home life Egyptians. Between them there are often images of domestic and wild animals. We see, for example, how the owner, buried in the grave, inspects his flocks, which stretch before him in a long line. There are also images of catching fish and birds, hunting for lions and gazelles; sometimes a human struggle with crocodiles and hippos is depicted. Alongside the drawings, we often find hieroglyphic inscriptions containing, for the most part, very apt descriptions of the animals depicted. It is clear that these ancient inscriptions and drawings are of great importance for researchers studying the life of animals in the Nile Valley. Of the monkeys depicted on ancient Egyptian monuments, the most common are hamadryas and baboons, as well as two species of monkeys that still live in eastern Sudan. These drawings are on the walls of the graves of ancient Memphis, on the rock tombs of Beni Hasan, in the Thebes necropolis, and also on the walls of some temples. In most cases, male monkeys were depicted, as they had a mythological significance. Small figurines depicting a sitting hamadryas, carved from various rocks, are very beautiful. They can be found in Egyptian museums in various European cities. Since hamadryas and baboons are not found in Egypt itself, just as both species of monkeys do not live in the lower Nile valley, and yet we meet them on ancient Egyptian monuments, it should be concluded from this that between the homeland of these animals and Egypt already in antiquity established trade and other relations. Some ancient inscriptions indicate to us that these communications took place through shipping on the Red Sea. Consequently, the depictions of monkeys on ancient Egyptian monuments prove that already a very long time ago, perhaps three thousand years BC, there was navigation between Egypt and the southern coast of the Red Sea *.
* Most likely, in the time of the pharaohs, baboons and monkeys were found in the lower reaches of the Nile, like many other animals (hippos, crocodiles, lions), now absent in Egypt.
As for the first of these monkeys, namely the hamadryl, in hieroglyphic writing it is called an, anin, anan, which in exact translation means imitating, imitating, sometimes, however, it was designated by the word uten. Both of these names apply to other monkeys as well. According to the rules of ancient Egyptian writing, various other additional appendages were attached to the root an and thus obtained various words expressing imitation, image, etc. The figure of a monkey in hieroglyphs is present, for example, in the words: "depict", "imitate", "imitator", "draw", "painter", "describe", "scribe", "writing board", "letter". In a later era, during the time of the Ptolemies, when various unauthorized changes occur in hieroglyphs, sometimes an image of a sitting hamadryl is found, which holds in right hand reed pen, which meant: "scribe", "write", "letter".
On the wall of one of the temples in Egypt, namely the temple at Teir el-Baheri, west of Thebes, there is a remarkable image relating to a sea voyage to Arabia undertaken by the Egyptians in the 17th century BC. On one of the tables of this drawing we we see how Egyptian ships are loaded with foreign booty. An explanatory inscription is placed next to the table, containing a detailed inventory of the cargo, so to speak, an invoice. This inventory says that the ships were loaded large quantity precious products of the Arabian land: fragrant wood, heaps of incense, trees that give incense (the table shows how each of these trees, planted in a huge tub, is transferred to ships by six people), ebony, white ivory, gold and silver, precious the cashier tashet with wood and bark, fragrant resin ahem, face paint called memo, anan monkeys (hamadryas) and kafu (baboons), and tazem animals (steppe lynxes), panther furs, women and children.
The completely artistic execution of these wall images, especially the drawings of both monkeys, fully convinces us that these are hamadryas (anan) and baboon (kafu). The word kafu is not Egyptian at all, it is probably borrowed from India, where in the Sanskrit language and the Malabar dialect it is pronounced as kash, which obviously corresponds to the Hebrew word koph. This word is found in the Bible when describing Solomon's campaign against Ophir and, obviously. denotes a baboon, not a hamadryas, as hitherto assumed. The names of other monkeys, namely monkeys, I do not consider it possible to give with accuracy, since there are no corresponding inscriptions with their images. It is likely that one of the above names, common to all monkeys, refers to them. The researcher of hieroglyphs Goropollon, whose works are known to us from the Greek translation of a certain Philip, says the following about the hamadryas, among other things: that these monkeys are akin to them.Hamadrils were kept at temples, and when a new hamadryas was brought to the temple, the priest gave him a tablet for writing, ink and a pen, so that the hamadryas would make an inscription on the tablet and by this prove that he belongs precisely to that breed of hamadryas , which has the right to be kept at the temples. For the same reason, the hamadryas was dedicated to Mercury, the patron of all sciences. "
There is some truth in these words of Goropollon. Studies have shown that among the sacred animals that were kept at the temples in ancient Egypt and were subject to embalming after death, was also hamadryas. This animal was dedicated to the god Thoth * (Hermes), the deity of the moon, the patron of writing, counting and all science, which is why hamadryas were kept at some temples, especially in Hermopolis.
* The most famous symbol of the god Thoth was the sacred ibis, while the baboon at one time personified the hypostasis of the god of death - Anubis. Animal symbols of various gods - changed over time. In Hellenistic times, Thoth began to be identified with Greek god Hermes.
The priests, noticing the intelligence of this animal, without any doubt, accustomed the hamadryas to various knuckles, among other things, and the ability to draw on tablets different signs, which the pious Egyptians took for hieroglyphs, which explains, in all likelihood, the mentioned image of the writing hamadryas. Horopollon further tells that the Egyptians also designated the month with the image of the hamadryas, since they noticed the amazing influence of this luminary on the indicated animal: “During the new moon, the male hamadryas is full of sadness, hides from people and does not want to eat, while the female bleeding always comes in. These phenomena were so regular that hamadryas were kept at temples in order to find out the time when the moon and the sun were in conjunction.
And there is truth in these testimonies. In astronomical paintings, usually placed on the vaults of temples, hamadryas are always depicted in connection with the moon. His image sometimes directly designates the month as a luminary; sometimes he is in an upright position, with raised arms, greets the rising moon, and the sitting hamadryas represents the equinox.
While the hamadryas took on mythological significance and even played a role in temples, the other three monkeys - the baboon and two kinds of monkeys - were indispensable in the Egyptian home environment. The noble Egyptians amused themselves with the music and dances of slaves, dwarfs, dogs and monkeys; that is why we sometimes see on ancient Egyptian monuments a monkey tied on a string to the master's armchair and amusing him with his jumps and grimaces. Often there are also images of one of these little monkeys, which feasts on figs.
Life of animals. - M.: State publishing house of geographical literature. A. Brem. 1958
- Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
- (Primates), detachment of higher mammals Nadotr. placental. P.'s ancestors were primitive insectivorous mammals; in the Upper Cretaceous deposits of Mongolia, apparently, the most ancient representative of this original group (Zalambdalestes) was found. ... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary
Primates- Primates: chimpanzees. PRIMATES, order of mammals. 2 suborders: semi-monkeys, or lower primates, and monkeys, or higher primates. Over 200 species from lemurs to humans (the evolutionary line that led to the emergence of humans separated from the general ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
PRIMATES, an order of MAMMALS that includes monkeys, prosimians, and humans. Primates are native to tropical and subtropical climates and are mainly diurnal arboreal herbivores. Their hands and... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary
Order of mammals, 2 suborders: semi-monkeys and monkeys. St. 200 species from lemurs to humans, which puts the order of primates in a special position. Primates are characterized by five-fingered grasping limbs, the ability of the thumb ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Primates- (order Primates) an extensive group of mammalian species (order) to which systematically belongs modern man and its evolutionary predecessors. In the vernacular of monkeys (which is not very true). The most important distinguishing ... ... Physical Anthropology. Illustrated explanatory dictionary.
PRIMATES, primates, units primacy, primate, male. (from lat. primates preeminent) (zool.). A detachment of higher mammals, which includes semi-monkeys, monkeys and people. Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov
PRIMATES, ov, units at, a, husband. (specialist.). A detachment of higher mammals - people, monkeys and semi-monkeys. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov
Primates are a detachment of higher placental mammals of the chordate type, which is divided into two suborders: semi-monkeys and monkeys (humanoid primates). According to the classification, a reasonable person also belongs to this detachment. The order of primates includes 12 families (lemurs, tarsiers, marmosets, broad-nosed monkeys, etc.), 57 genera and more than 200 species. The superfamily of great apes includes the gibbons (gibbons, siamangs, huloks, nomascuses) and hominids (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and humans). According to paleontologists, primates appeared on Earth in the process of evolution in the Upper Cretaceous period (70-100 million years ago). Primates are descended from insect-eating mammalian ancestors common with woolly wings. These ancient primates are the forerunners of tarsiers and lemurs. And primitive tarsiformes from the Eocene period later became the ancestors of humanoid primates.
Primates in wild nature live in the tropics and subtropics. They live mainly in wooded area, more often in herds or family groups, less often alone or in pairs. They constantly live within a small territory, which they mark or loud cries alerts you when the area is occupied. All primates have complex differentiation and coordination of movements, since their ancestors and many of the modern species are arboreal animals that are able to quickly and confidently move along tree branches. In groups of primates, a complex hierarchical organization is noticeable, where there are dominant and subordinate individuals. It should also be noted a high degree communication, when individuals respond to cries, movements of other members of the community, clean, lick the hair of themselves and other individuals of the pack, females take care of their own and other cubs. Primates are usually active during the day, less often at night. The diet of primates includes a mixed diet with a predominance of plant matter, some species feed on insects.
Within the order, primates are distinguished by a huge variety of shapes and sizes. The smallest representatives of primates are marmosets and lemurs, the largest are gorillas. The body of primates has a hairline of different colors in different species, broad-nosed monkeys and lemurs have an undercoat, so their coat resembles fur. Many species have manes, mantles, ear and tail tufts, beards, etc. Most monkeys have a tail of varying length, which sometimes performs a grasping function. While moving on the ground, primates rely on the entire foot. The habitation of primates on trees led to the development of a vertical body position in them, which later in the process of evolution led to the appearance of bipedal locomotion in the ancestors of hominids.
Characteristic features of primates are movable five-fingered limbs, opposition of the thumb to everyone else, the presence of fingernails, binocular vision, body hair, an underdeveloped sense of smell, and the complication of the structure of the cerebral hemispheres. Considerable freedom of action of the forelimbs is provided by the presence of the clavicles. Grasping movements are carried out due to the opposition of the thumb to the rest. The brushes bend and unbend perfectly. The elbow joints are also well mobile. There are papillary patterns on the palms and soles of the monkeys. These animals have sharp eyesight and hearing, smell, in comparison with other sense organs, are less developed.
The cranial box of primates is enlarged in volume, since, due to the complication of movements and behavior, the brain is more developed than that of representatives of other orders of animals. Accordingly, the facial skull is reduced in size in comparison with the brain, the jaws are shortened. In lower primates, the brain is relatively smooth, with few convolutions. Higher primates have many furrows and convolutions on well-developed cerebral hemispheres. The occipital lobes of the brain are expressed, which are responsible for vision, the temporal and frontal lobes that control movements and the vocal apparatus. There is a high level of higher nervous activity, complex behavior.
Primates have four types of teeth: incisors, canines, small and large molars. The stomach is simple in connection with the use of mixed food.
Primates breed throughout the year. Pregnancy in females lasts from 4 to 10 months. Larger species have longer gestation periods. A helpless cub is born, sometimes two or three. The female feeds them with milk from a pair of mammary glands on the chest. Cubs remain under the care of their mother until they are two or three years old. Life span of primates large sizes reaches 20-30 years.
Primates (lat. Primates, from lat. primas, lit. "first") - one of the most progressive orders of placental mammals, including, among other things, monkeys and humans. The order includes more than 400 species
Primates are characterized by five-fingered, very mobile upper limbs (hands), opposition of the thumb to the rest (for the majority), and nails. The body of most primates is covered with hair, and lemurs and some broad-nosed monkeys also have an undercoat, which is why their hairline can be called real fur.
binocular vision
Hairline
five-fingered limb
fingers are equipped with nails
the thumb of the brush is opposed to all the rest
underdeveloped sense of smell
Significant development of the cerebral hemispheres
Classification
A detachment of primates was identified back in 1758 by Linnaeus, who attributed to him people, monkeys, semi-monkeys, bats and sloths. For the defining features of primates, Linnaeus took the presence of two mammary glands and a five-fingered limb. In the same century, Georges Buffon divided primates into two orders - four-armed (Quadrumana) and two-armed (Bimanus), separating man from other primates. Only 100 years later, Thomas Huxley put an end to this division by proving that the monkey's hind limb is a leg. Since the 18th century, the composition of the taxon has changed, but back in the 20th century, the slow loris was attributed to sloths, and bats were excluded from the closest relatives of primates at the beginning of the 21st century.
AT recent times The classification of primates has undergone significant changes. Previously, suborders of semi-monkeys (Prosimii) and anthropoid primates (Anthropoidea) were distinguished. The semi-monkeys included all representatives of the modern suborder of the strepsirrhines, (Strepsirhini), tarsiers, and sometimes tupai (now considered as a special detachment). Anthropoids became the infraorder apes in the suborder dry-nosed monkeys. In addition, the Pongidae family was previously distinguished, which is now considered a subfamily of Pongina within the Hominid family.
suborder strepsirrhines (Strepsirhini)
Lemuriformes infraorder
lemurs, or lemurids (Lemuridae): actually lemurs
· pygmy lemurs(Cheirogaleidae): pygmy and mouse lemurs
Lepilemuridae (Lepilemuridae)
Indriidae (Indriidae): indri, avagis and sifaki
hand-legged (Daubentoniidae): aye-aye (single species)
Infraorder Loriformes (Loriformes)
Loris (Loridae): lorises and pottos
Galagonidae (Galagonidae): Galago proper
suborder dry-nosed (Haplorhini)
infraorder tarsiiformes (Tarsiiformes)
tarsiers (Tarsiidae)
Infraorder Monkeys (Simiiformes)
parvoorder broad-nosed monkeys, or monkeys of the New World (Platyrrhina)
marmosets (Callitrichidae)
chain-tailed (Cebidae)
night monkeys (Aotidae)
Saky (Pitheciidae)
arachnids (Atelidae)
narrow-nosed monkeys, or primates of the Old World (Catarhina)
superfamily canine-headed (Cercopithecoidea)
marmoset, or lower narrow-nosed monkeys (Cercopithecidae): macaques, baboons, monkeys, etc.
superfamily great apes, or hominoids (Hominoidea), or anthropomorphids (Anthropomorphidae)
gibbons, or lesser apes (Hylobatidae): true gibbons, nomascuses, huloks and siamangs
hominids (Hominidae): orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and humans