The primate order is a general characteristic. Anatomical and physiological features of the detachment

Class: 7

Keywords: gorilla, orangutan, semi-primates, higher primates, chimpanzee

• Educational: to introduce students to the diversity of primates; identify their characteristic features high organization compared to other animals.
• Developing:
show the similarity of primates with humans; develop logical thinking and learning skills - to work with additional sources of information, the ability to draw conclusions; continue the development of skills to analyze, namely to compare, generalize; public speaking skill.
• Educational
: form careful attitude to nature, to instill a love for animals.

Lesson type: explanation of new material.

Type of lesson: computer.

Forms of work: individual, frontal, didactic games.

Equipment: textbook, computer, computer slides, screen, projector, video films, test cards, crossword question cards, banana drawings.

Lesson plan.

I. Organizing time. Greetings. Recording absentees. Checking preparedness for the lesson .
II. Knowledge update(Oral answer to questions on the topic “Artiodactyls, equids”).
.
1. General characteristics of the order Primates.
2. Characteristics of the suborders of Primates.
3. Working out conditioned reflexes in anthropoid apes.
4. Comparison of man and great apes.
5. Significance of primates in nature.
6. Primates listed in the Red Book.
IV. Consolidation of knowledge.
1. Solving a crossword puzzle.
2. Testing.
3. Task (name associations to the concept of primacy).
v. Homework.
VI. Outcome.

During the classes

I. Organizational moment. Greetings. Recording absentees. Checking preparedness for the lesson .

II. Knowledge update.

Teacher. In the previous lessons, we got acquainted with different orders of mammals and identified their distinctive and similar features. Now let's repeat the materials of the last lesson (Oral answer to questions ) (Presentation. slide 2).

1) What animals belong to the equine order and what unites them?
2) What was the role of a horse for a person 100-200 years ago?
3) What is the role of the horse in human life at the present stage?
4) What animals are classified as artiodactyl non-ruminants?
5) What animals belong to artiodactyl ruminants?
6) What is the role of ungulates in nature?
7) What is the significance of ungulates in human life?

Teacher. Today we will complete the study big topic"Class Mammals". The last and most important order in the Mammals class that we will study is the order Primates. (Slide 1)

(Introduction to the lesson plan.) (Slide 3)

III. Learning new material.

Teacher. The term “primates”, meaning “one of the first”, was first proposed in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, uniting monkeys and humans into the order Primates. (Slide 4)

Primates are inhabitants of the tropics: most of them live in dense forest thickets. All other arboreal animals cling with sharp claws when climbing. In contrast, primates grasp a branch with long, well-developed fingers. On the front and hind limbs of primates, the first (thumb) finger can be opposed to the rest. This allows the animal to hold firmly on the branches, take the most small items. Instead of claws on the fingers of monkeys, flat nails are developed. The limbs are very mobile. They serve not only for movement - animals grab food with them, clean and comb hair on any parts of the body.

Monkeys have excellent hearing and sharp eyesight. Their eyes are not located on the sides of the head, as in most other animals, but are directed forward. They see the same object with both eyes at the same time, thanks to which they accurately determine the distance to it. This feature of vision is of great importance when jumping from branch to branch.

Monkeys distinguish shape and color well, already from a distance they find ripe fruits, edible insects. They feed on both plant and animal food, but still prefer juicy fruits. A baby in primates is born sighted, but incapable of independent movement. He clings tightly to the wool of his mother, who carries him with her, holding him with one hand.

Monkeys differ from other mammals in the large size of the brain, the large hemispheres of which have many convolutions. Their sense of smell is poorly developed, there are no tactile hairs. The main organs of touch are the fingers, as well as the bare palms and soles of the feet.

Monkeys are active during the day. They live in herds, a strong male is at the head of the herd, and the rest of the males, females and growing cubs occupy a subordinate position and fulfill his requirements, transmitted using sound signals and gestures.

The order Primates is subdivided into two suborders: Lower monkeys, or Semi-monkeys and Higher Primates, or Monkeys. (Slide 5)

Teacher. Lemurs, tarsiers, and tupai belong to the suborder of the Semi-monkeys. The animals are small, covered with thick hair. The tail is long, densely drooping. Not everyone's thumb is opposed to the rest, the phalanges of the fingers are equipped with claws. Representatives - thin loris, lemur vari, rukonopodka, poppies, tupai - are among the most primitive insectivorous semi-monkeys. Distributed in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Madagascar. (Slide 6)

Students' messages about representatives of the suborder of the Semi-monkeys.

1st student: Tarsiers live on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, Byangka and Belitung, in Indonesia and the Philippines. The eyes weigh more than the brain. Tail 135–275 cm. Weight 100g. Hunt for scorpions and poisonous snakes. They love newborn mice, sparrows, and beetles.

They do not synthesize vitamin C. The lower teeth are not directed forward, but upward. The second and third toes are claws. The limbs are bare. Able to turn head 180ºÑ (Slide 7).
The most primitive of the semi-monkeys are the tupai, small, squirrel-like animals that live in the forests of South Asia. They do not have nails on their fingers, but also claws, and the thumb cannot resist others. Teeth 38, brain smooth, without furrows and convolutions.

The lemurs that inhabit Madagascar thumbs they can resist others, nails on all fingers, except for the second toe, armed with a “toilet” claw - a scratcher.

Fox muzzle, teeth 36. These are nocturnal animals rainforest feeding on fruits, insects, bird eggs and chicks. Now they are disappearing along with the forests.” (Slide 8-9)

2nd student: “In Africa and South Asia, representatives of the Lorievs live. Lori means "clown" in Dutch. Sizes 12–40 cm. They live in South and Southeast Asia, Africa. There are thin and thick loris, potto.
The slender loris lives in India, Sri Lanka. The size of a chipmunk: 25 cm and 7 mm tail. Weight 280 g. The second finger is reduced. Nocturnal lifestyle. They look like miniature big-eyed cubs.” (V / f “Primate Detachment”.)

Teacher. The suborder Greater Primates includes broad-nosed, narrow-nosed and great apes. (Slide 10) Great apes are divided into lower anthropoids and higher great apes. This suborder includes primates of various sizes. The height of the smallest, for example marmosets, is 20–35 cm, and the largest ones are up to 2 m. Marmosets also have claw-like nails, thumb not opposed to others and the cerebral hemispheres are smooth. The tail is "squirrel", not grasping. In the rest of the primates, the nails are wide, the vibrissae on the front part have disappeared.

The brain has many convolutions and is well developed. 139 species are known. This suborder also includes humans.

These monkeys and humans had common ancestors, then their development went in different ways. Today, despite a large number of common features in the structure, the differences are very significant.

Students' messages about representatives of the suborder Higher Primates.

3rd student: “ The most primitive monkeys are united in the superfamily of broad-nosed. Their cartilaginous nasal septum is wide and the nostrils are directed forward. They live in South and Central America.

This suborder includes marmosets, howler monkeys, and spider monkeys. (Slide 11)

Igrunki - residents tropical America. The pygmy marmoset lives in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador. The size of a squirrel, weighing 355 g. It has 32 teeth. Fingers end in claws. Moves freely in any position, even upside down. A rich mane is an indicator good health and complete nutrition. Hepatitis, leukemia, organ transplantation, and immunity are studied on marmosets.
The howler lives from Colombia to the mouth of the Amazon, south to Bolivia. Herbivorous.

Arachnids (koata) live in South America. They have a tenacious tail that twists around a branch and acts as a fifth limb, bare at the end, equipped with a leather comb - this is the organ of touch.

4th student: “ In narrow-nosed monkeys, the facial region of the skull protrudes forward, the tail is long or short, but never prehensile. Usually there are cheek pouches and ischial calluses, which are exposed areas of skin in the area of ​​the ischial muscles . Teeth 32, upper canines large, brain well developed (weighing up to 150 g). Of the monkeys, macaques are the most famous. They often descend to the ground. The Rhesus macaque is well known as an experimental animal of medicine. (Slides 12-14)

Hamadryas, mandrills and anubis - large, up to 25 kg baboons of Africa . (Slide 15)

Hamadryad. Males 80 cm long, tail length 60 cm. Weight 30 kg. Females are half the size. The coat is gray, in males it forms a lush silvery-gray mantle. The females are greyish-brown. There are cheek pouches. Found in Africa and Asia. Live up to 30 years. Listed in the Red Book (Slide 16).(In \ f "Hamadrily".)
Mandrill lives in Cameroon, Africa. It has the richest and brightest coloration in the world of monkeys” . (Slide 17)

Nosachi are medium-sized monkeys, but among small monkeys they seem to be giants. The body length is 55–72 cm, proboscis have a very long tail, which is almost equal to length body (66–75 cm). Weight ranges from 12 to 24 kg, and males with the same body length weigh almost twice as much as females. The main external feature of these monkeys is an amazing nose, which is no longer found in any other animal. The coat of these monkeys is short and tight.

Nosachi are narrow endemic, that is, they are found in a limited area. They live only on about. Borneo (Kalimantan) of the Malay Archipelago and nowhere else in the world. They are active mainly during the day, most of the time they stay in the crowns of trees, they rarely descend to the ground. (Slide 18)(In / f “Nosach Monkey”.)

Teacher. The lower apes include gibbons, orangutans. Gibbons live in the forests of Southeast Asia. They are small, retained ischial calluses. (Slide 19)

Orangutans are large, the weight of males is up to 189 kg, they are covered with bright red hair. They rarely descend to the ground, live in trees, feed on fruits, leaves, young shoots. (Slide 20).

The higher anthropoids (the most developed) monkeys have a large brain (up to 600 g), no tail, cheek pouches and ischial calluses. Gorillas and chimpanzees, closest to humans, live in equatorial Africa .

Student messages about great apes.

5th student: “ The largest of the great apes is the gorilla (up to 250 kg), a powerful, but very peaceful monkey of tropical rainforests. Gorillas are strict vegetarians. The body is covered with dense short black hair. (Slide 21)

On the ground, the gorilla moves bent over, leaning on the back of the fingers of the forelimb. Found in equatorial Africa. It feeds on juicy fruits, nuts, root crops” (V / f “Gorilla”.)

6th student: “The chimpanzee is a large monkey , height up to 150 cm, weight 45–50 kg. The arms are longer than the legs. The auricles are shaped like human, the hair is dark, the face is devoid of hair . (Slide 22)

The body temperature of a chimpanzee is 37.2°C. It is currently the most numerous species of all great apes. The number of individuals living in the wild is estimated at several tens of thousands. Groups consist of 5–30 individuals, in which the strongest of the males leads. Most the days are spent in mutual grooming and looking for food. Their diet consists of fruits. Sometimes they eat ants and termites. Chimpanzees, regardless of age, expressively demonstrate their mood. He sticks out his tongue, sucks his finger, gnaws on various objects. They grieve, cry, rejoice. Chimpanzees spend most of their day in trees.

There are two types: the common chimpanzee and the pygmy chimpanzee. . Pygmy chimpanzee is listed in the Red Book . (Slide 23) Both species are found in Central Africa. The blood of a bonobo of the appropriate group can be transfused into a human.” (V / f “Chimpanzee”.)

Teacher. An active life and a variety of functions of the forelimbs made it possible for the primates to have a strong development of the brain, and this led to a reduction in the facial region of the skull.

The whole hand-eye-brain complex is a prerequisite for complex behavior associated with the use of various objects to achieve life goals.

The monkeys are stacking boxes in order to get a hanging banana; they crush the leaves with their hands and with this sponge they extract rainwater from a recess in the tree; with the help of a pole they overcome a pond; grass cleanse the body of dirt; having cleaned the wand, pick it in the teeth; use the leaves to make a cone to get drunk. (V / f “Rational activity of a monkey.”)

Student's messages about the similarity of higher apes with humans.

7th student: “ The higher apes have the same blood types as humans, suffer from the same infectious diseases e.g. tuberculosis, influenza.

The structure of the body is very similar to the human, but there are differences. The human pelvis is adapted to walking upright, and the monkey cannot move while in an upright position.

Biological sciences study the human body. We must not forget that man has separated from the animal world and is a social being, the hallmark of which is consciousness, which arose on the basis of social and labor activity. A person becomes a person only in a society where he develops and lives.

Teacher. Primates in nature play a huge practical value. They distribute the seeds of plants, control the growth and development of plants. Enrich the soil with organic fertilizers, enter the food chain.

Most great apes are listed in the International Red Book. Their numbers are decreasing from fires in the forests and the negligent attitude of man towards them. (Slide 24-27).

All living beings are born to live. You can not offend animals and pick plants unnecessarily; do not pollute nature, protect its wealth. If nature becomes impoverished, all living things will disappear. For them, the world must be clean. Man is part of nature, which means that he, too, will disappear from the face of the earth. We came into this world to live and do great things.

It is important to protect nature, because we have to pass this world on to our children, who must see it the way we see it. Let's do this task together!

Man is the crown of nature, her beloved child. And he will never be able to rise above her, because he will always feel the need to communicate with her in order to remain Human. .

Fizkultminutka.(Slide 28)

We are funny monkeys
We play too loud.
We all stomp our feet
We all clap our hands
We puff out cheeks
We jump on toes.
Together we jump to the ceiling,
Bring the finger to the temple
And even to each other
Let's show the tongues!
Shire open your mouth,
We'll make all the grimaces.
When I say word three
All freeze with grimaces.
One two Three!

IV. Consolidation of knowledge.

1. Solving a crossword puzzle. (Slide 29)

1) The most primitive insectivorous semi-monkey (tupaya).
2) Most major representative great apes (gorilla).
3) A representative of narrow-nosed monkeys (baboons).
4) What class do primates belong to? (Mammals).
5) (Auricles are shaped like human (chimpanzee).
6) They have the largest body weight among higher primates (orangutan).
7) Representative of narrow-nosed monkeys (monkey).

2. Completion of test tasks. (Slide 30)

1) Which of the sense organs in primates is poorly developed?

A - sight, B - hearing, C - smell .

2) Total number species around:

A - 150, B - 200, C - 260, d - 300.

3) The development of what part of the brain is associated with the formation of conditioned reflexes?

A - cerebellum
B - cerebral cortex ,
B - medulla oblongata
D - diencephalon.

4) Higher primates are the most highly organized animals, because:

And they live in herds
B - can move quickly
B - have a highly developed brain,
G - able to use the simplest tools

5) The smallest representative of the suborder of higher primates:

A - toy
B - mandrill,
B - macaque,
G - howler.

(Check the correctness of the answers on the computer, explain.) (Slide 31)

3. Name the associations to the concept of primacy. Associations can be a word, an expression, or a whole sentence starting with a certain letter. . (Slide 32)

P R I M A T

V. Homework. Study paragraph 35, complete tasks in the workbook, answer 1-3 questions. (Slide 33)

Teacher. In this lesson, we met with a detachment of primates, their representatives and characteristic features. Everyone was active at the lesson, well done! Now count your bananas, who has more bananas? (Grades are given by the number of bananas.) The teacher comments on the students' grades.

I wish you success in your studies. Grow up polite, smart, diligent, educated people! Wherever, whoever you are, stay real people! (Slide 34) In conclusion, I want to read a poem by S. V. Mikhalkov “Be a man”:

Ants in the forest
They live by their work
They have their own customs
And the anthill is a house.
Peaceful Residents
Do not sit idle:
In the morning, fighters run to the post,
And nannies in kindergarten.
The worker ant is in a hurry
labor path,
From morning to evening rustling
In the grass and under the leaves.
You walked through the woods with a stick
And an ant house
Jokingly, I dug it to the bottom
And then set fire to it.
Peace and work big family
Trouble broke.
Ants were flying in the smoke
Fleeing whoever.
The needles crackled. Quietly smoldered
Dry, fallen leaf.
calmly looked down
Cruel egoist...
For calling you that
I don't blame myself,
Because you didn't create it.
That betrayed the fire.
You live in our atomic age
And he himself is an ant,
Be a man, man
You are on your own land!

It is assumed that primates evolved from primitive insectivores in the Upper Cretaceous in Asia, from where they subsequently spread to other continents. Now the order includes about 200 species distributed in the tropics of Asia, Africa and America and divided into two suborders: semi-monkeys(Prosimii) and higher primates(Anthropodidae).

Suborder Lower primates, or Semi-monkeys (Prosimii)

This suborder includes the most primitive representatives of primates - stupid , lemurs and tarsiers . They are common in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Madagascar and the African tropics. Now 53 species are known.

Relatively small animals with a body length of 9 to 106 cm. The tail is often long (in some species twice as long as the body), but not prehensile, densely pubescent. Not all types first finger clearly resists other fingers. Most of the fingers are armed not with nails, but with claws. The surface of the brain is smooth or furrowed.

Family tupai (Tupaiidae) are the most primitive of the prosimians. Small animals (body length 10 - 22 cm) with a long fluffy tail. Outwardly, they look like small squirrels. Their first fingers are not opposed to the rest. Widespread in the forests of Southeast Asia.

Family species lemurs (Lemuridae) - inhabitants of Madagascar and neighboring islands. These are nocturnal arboreal animals that feed on fruits, insects, many are omnivores. Their body is covered with thick fur, the tail is also long and fluffy. Herd lifestyle. Ordinary lemurs are mobile creatures, easily tamed, not uncommon in zoos. known lemurs (Lemur variegatus), katta (L. catta), murine (Cheirogalens). close to lemurs hand-footed or aye-aye (Daubentoniidae), lorizidaceae (Lorisidae).

To the family tarsiers (Darsiidae) belong to peculiar animals a little larger than a rat, with huge eyes directed forward, very long hind legs and short front legs. Fingers are equipped with suction pads. Arboreal nocturnal animals that feed on insects. Distributed on the islands of the Malay Archipelago. Representative - tarsier – ghost (Tarsius spectrum).

Suborder Higher primates, or Monkeys (Anthropoidea)

Monkeys are larger than the species of the previous suborder, their body length is from 15 to 200 cm. Tail missing or developed to varying degrees; many South American species prehensile. First fingerclearlyopposed to the rest. All fingers are armed nails. The brain is relatively larger than that of prosimians, and anterior hemispherebrain in the vast majority of specieshave numerous furrows and convolutions.

The suborder includes three superfamilies: broad-nosed(American), monkeys (Ceboidea), narrow-nosed(Afro-Asiatic) monkeys (Cercopithecidae) and higher(Hominoidae). About 140 species of monkeys are now known. Broad-nosed New World monkeys are distinguished by their wide cartilaginous nasal septum and outward-facing nostrils.. The tail is long, tenacious, grasping, arboreal way of life.

Family marmosets , or marmosets monkeys (Callithricidae), includes the smallest representatives of higher apes. The length of their body is 15 - 20 cm. The tail is long, but not grasping.

Family prehensile-tailed monkeys, or cebid (Cobidae) includes small and medium-sized species (body length 24–91 cm). The tail of all species is well developed: in many it is tenacious. Among the species of this family, we mention spider monkeys(genus Brachytelos), capuchins (celebrity) and howler monkeys (Alonatta).

The species of both families are forest, tree animals. Their food is mixed, but mostly vegetable. They tend to be kept in family groups. Distributed in Central and South America.

Superfamily lower narrow-nosed monkeys (Cercopithecidae) unlike American have a narrow nasal septum and protruding front of the skull. They are common in Africa and South Asia.

Family monkeys (Cercopithecidae), is the most numerous group of narrow-nosed monkeys. They have highly developed cheek pouches; usually has a long tail and developed ischial calluses. Biologically very diverse. Actually monkeys(Cercopithecus) are predominantly African species that inhabit tropical forests and keep in herds. They lead a mostly arboreal lifestyle. Herbivorous. Baboons (Papio) are also common in Africa, they usually live in rocky mountains and nest in caves. Their diet is mixed. Some species attack mammals. macaques(genus Macaca) are predominantly South Asian monkeys. They lead both arboreal and terrestrial lifestyles; often, like baboons, they live in the mountains, adhering to rocky slopes. Most famous rhesus monkey (M. mulatta), common in South Asia and the Himalayas (from Nepal to Burma). They live in large herds. Common in zoos around the world.

Superfamily higher, or humanoid, primates (Hominiodae) unites gibbons , great apes and human .

In the family gibbons (Hylobatidae) seven species characterized by very long forelimbs: when upright, they reach the feet of the hind limbs. Common in tropical forests Northeast India, Indochina, Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. Typical inhabitants of tree crowns. Swinging on their front legs, they jump from tree to tree at a distance of 10 m or more. The largest kind gibbon hulok (Hylobates hoolck), found in India and Burma.

In the family great apes four types. According to the features of the anatomical structure and a number of physiological indicators, they are closest to humans. The cerebral box of the skull is especially strongly developed. The hemispheres of the forebrain have complex furrows and convolutions.

orangutan (pongo pygmaeus) - a large (1.5 m high) hairy monkey of a reddish-red color, with elongated jaws, very long forelimbs and small auricles. Distributed on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. It leads an arboreal lifestyle, descending to the ground extremely rarely. Orangutans live alone or in family groups. The young are born in a nest in a tree. Their numbers have declined sharply and continue to decline. The species is included in the IUCN Red List.

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). They live in the tropical forests of Africa. The way of life is mainly arboreal, but descend to the ground regularly. Their dimensions are about 1.5 m. The general coloration is black; the face is naked; the ears are comparatively large, very similar to those of humans. The front legs are relatively shorter than those of the orangutan. Mostly vegetarians. They live in families, sometimes gathering in small herds.

Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) - the largest of the great apes (2 m high). The forelimbs, like those of a chimpanzee, are not very long. They walk on the ground, bent over, leaning (like chimpanzees) on all four limbs. They feed on fruits, nuts and root vegetables. Widespread in the forests of equatorial Africa.

Family of people (Hominidae) includes one living species Homo sapiens ( Homo sapiens). There are many features that distinguish humans from anthropoid apes. The human brain, with a well-developed cerebral cortex, is more than three times the size of an ape's brain. The hairline is reduced. The forelimbs are relatively short, not reaching to the knees. body position is upright and hands are freed from the function of supporting the body. Hind limbs straightened at the knee joint and lost grasping function. Due to the vertical position of the body wide pelvis, serving to support the viscera and strongly developed gluteal muscles. The chin has a characteristic protrusion associated with a large and complex tongue.

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Animal primates

You think that of all animal species, primates are the easiest to recognize. But in fact, not all primates have the same characteristics. Primates are warm-blooded mammals covered with hair or wool.

Their females feed their young with their milk, they are all vertebrates. The primate order includes more than 360 species of monkeys and all 80 species of lemurs, as well as humans.

higher apes

The higher or great apes have much fewer species than the lower apes. Species of large higher apes can be counted on the fingers of one hand. These are the gorilla, orangutan, chimpanzee and bonobo (pygmy chimpanzee).

The gorilla is the largest of all primates, the weight of a male can reach 300 kg, and the arm span is 3 meters. The lifespan of a gorilla can be as long as 50 years, but in nature they live up to 35 years. There are actually three subspecies of gorillas, but the most common is the western lowland gorilla. In the wild, it lives in the tropical rainforests of the western equatorial Africa. Gorillas live in family groups, which includes a dominant male, several adult females and adolescents with cubs. The term dominant male refers to mature males with silvery fur on their backs. But silver fur can also grow on the back of a subdominant adult male, so only the leader of the group is called the dominant male. Young males that are not ready for mating have dark hair on their backs. The gestation period of females lasts 36 - 37 weeks, which is only two weeks less than in humans. Gorillas, despite their size, are peaceful, they eat various parts plants, but most of all love fruits.

Chimpanzee

Chimpanzees and bonobos are closest to humans in DNA composition. Chimpanzees and humans share 98% of their genes. Although chimpanzees are large higher apes, like gorillas, if you look closely, you can see striking differences. A male chimpanzee weighs approximately 50 kg. Chimpanzees have large, protruding ears that help them hear other chimpanzees in dense forests.

These animals are very sociable, they not only have sonorous voices, they also communicate with facial expressions, body language, clapping their hands and courting other members of their group. A chimpanzee family group consists of 6 to 10 individuals, but these groups form a community, sometimes consisting of hundreds of primates. As is typical of a group of gorillas, an adult male chimpanzee may be the leader of the community, but may also share leadership with several males. In gorillas, this phenomenon is not observed. Chimpanzees are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and meat. True, their diet consists of seeds, fruits, flowers, bark and honey, but they also prey on small animals - lower monkeys and even small antelopes.

facial expressions

Monkeys are very expressive: they tell each other about what they feel with the help of facial expressions, gestures and other body movements. Like most other social animals, a hierarchy is established in the monkey community. The dominant individual (usually an adult male) has the right to be the first to choose food and sexual partners.

People pout their lips; so do baby chimpanzees. To attract attention, both cry, and sometimes scream.

With wide eyes and tight lips, this chimpanzee is not frowning, but threatening.

Demonstration of fear: mouth open, teeth exposed, eyebrows raised.

Bonobo

Bonobo in many ways similar to chimpanzees, they are close to them in size. In appearance, bonobos are more slender, and their head and ears are smaller. If the range of the chimpanzee includes tropical storm forests, lowland and mountain forests of western and central Africa, then bonobos are found only in the tropical forests of the African Congo. They differ from chimpanzees and gorillas in that their communities are run by females who have sexual intercourse even with their sons.

Orangutans are not only distinguished from other higher apes by their fiery red coat, but also by the fact that they live only in the forests of the southeastern islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Orangutans do not live in packs and groups, like other higher apes, they are solitary animals. Their main group simply consists of mother and cubs. An orangutan cub has the longest childhood, staying with its mother until it is 8 years old.

gibbons

Gibbons are small higher apes. There are 12 different types gibbons from white-armed to white-cheeked. And the smallest higher monkey is the siamang, whose paws are longer than the body, the throat sac swells like Balloon, and the facial expression is almost human.

What do the higher and lower apes have in common? Both types of monkeys are active during daylight hours, have dry noses, poor sense of smell, and toenails. As for the difference, with the exception of gibbons, the higher apes are larger than the lower ones. The higher apes have arms longer than their legs, they can rotate their shoulders in all directions and they have a wide chest, no hair on the muzzle and the most noticeable difference is the absence of a tail.

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, and the ulna and radius are completely separated, 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, a reduction in the sense of smell is associated with tree life, 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 active life primates caused a strong development of their 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 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, it occurs natural selection associated with its increase. For example, a male Hanuman can assemble a whole harem of 20 females - very big 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 them powerful weapon. Males use them in aggressive displays and fights.

Primate reproduction and offspring

Primates breed all year round. Usually one calf is born (in lower forms there may be 2-3). large species 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 has a high level of 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 the peak of their physical development are limited in their breeding attempts. 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, as a rule, lives in trees, 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 the subtropical and tropical forests of Asia, Africa and America, and are also found in high mountain areas.

Primate classification

About 200 species of modern primates are known. 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 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. skins certain types used today for dressing various things.

A detachment of primates in last years is becoming increasingly important in medical and biological experiments. These animals show great resemblance to humans in many anatomical and physiological features. 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 - culture medium for the cultivation of viruses, which, after appropriate processing, are then converted into a polio vaccine).

Currently in scientific classification the terms "higher" and "lower" monkeys are not used in this context. These are only descriptive terms with no classificatory value. The following classification of the suborder of anthropoid apes (Anthropoidea) is now accepted, which includes 3 superfamilies: the superfamily Broad-nosed monkeys, the superfamily Lower narrow-nosed monkeys and the superfamily Hominoidea. lower primates representatives of the semi-monkey suborder are called, and all monkeys of the Antropoidae suborder, or humanoid higher apes, are called higher monkeys (as, by the way, the author himself does when describing the Tarsier family. The use of these terms (higher and lower) in relation to primates can only lead to even more confusion that already exists in the taxonomy of this order of mammals.

The order contains about 150 species. Monkeys are varied appearance, ecology and other characteristics, but at the same time they have common features body structures: five-fingered grasping limbs and developed collarbones; the brushes bend and unbend well; the first fingers of the hands in many species are opposed to the rest; there are nails on the fingers (some semi-monkeys have claws); the orbits are separated from the temporal pits either by the periorbital ring or by a bony septum; eyes are directed forward; four types of teeth (newborns are characterized by the presence of milk teeth, which are then replaced by permanent ones); the caecum is developed; have a placenta, etc.

In terms of body size, primates vary from 8-15 cm in length (tarsier, pygmy marmoset, mouse microcebus) up to 2 m (gorilla). Average weight mouse microcebus - 60 g, while a gorilla can reach a weight of 300 kg. Corresponds to different body sizes and different duration primate life. Some species of monkeys maximum age does not exceed 10 years different kinds marmosets), others - 57-60 years old (orangutan).

For primates (as well as for the vast majority of mammals), live birth is characteristic. After birth, the cub is fed with mother's milk. The length of the gestation period is related to life expectancy. The amplitude of this value in primates is significant: from 40 days in tupai to 270-290 days in great apes.

Like all other mammals, during the period of embryonic development they develop a notochord, gill slits, and a hollow neural tube. In the process of fetal development, the listed formations develop, change or overgrow. The development of the fetus in the womb leads to the formation of the spine, the internal axial skeleton, two pairs of limbs, a closed circulatory system and complex nervous system, as well as a special arrangement of organs (in particular, the heart on the ventral side of the body). Representatives of this order of mammals are covered with hair and have mammary glands; primates have a peculiar structure of the inner ear and teeth.

Monkeys have a perfect system of thermoregulation, due to which the body has a relatively constant temperature, which ensures the constancy of the internal environment of the body, regardless of the external one. Wool retains heat; it is, as a rule, extremely varied in color, but there are species with a natural white coat. Cases of albinism have also been noted, in particular, in the gorilla, capuchin, rhesus monkey, mangabey, colobus, spider monkey, lory. albino monkeys in vivo do not live long, they are expelled from the pack or family and die from predators.

There are species of monkeys with very long tails, considerably exceeding the length of the body, and also with short tails; there are monkeys with almost imperceptible tails and even tailless ones. Tails can perform a variety of functions: grasping (with the help of a tail, a monkey can cling to a bough or trunk), a rudder function - when jumping from tree to tree or on the ground. With the help of the tail, the monkey can hold the cub sitting on its back, lean on it, etc.