Chapter 6 Definitions

Anthropology 340 with Saur at Michigan State University

About this deck

By: Amber Hauck
Textbook: Intro to Physical Anthropology
Created: 2009-11-15
Size: 36 flashcards
Views: 4

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Prosimians

members of a suborder of Primates, the Prosimii; includes lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers

Primates

members of the order of mammals Primates; includes prosimians, monkeys, apes, and humans

Anthropoids

members of a suborder of Primates, the Anthropoidea; includes monkeys, apes, and humans

Primatologists

scientists who study the evolution, anatomy, and behavior of nonhuman primates

Morphology

the form of anatomical structures; can also refer to the entire organism

Prehensility

grasping, as by the hands and feet of primates

Omnivorous

having a diet consisting of many food types; plants, meat, and insects

Diurnal

active during the day

Olfaction

the sense of smell

Nocturnal

active during the night

Stereoscopic Vision

the condition wherby visual images are superimposed; provides for depth perception, or three-dimension environments

Binocular Vision

vision characterized by overlapping visual fields provided by forward-facing eyes; essential to depth perception

Hemispheres

two halves of the cerebrum that are connected by a dense mass of fibers; large, rounded, outer portion of the brain

Neocortex

the more recently evolved portion so fthe coretex of the brain that are involved with higher mental functions and composed of areas that integrate incoming information from different sensory organs

Sensory Modalities

different forms of sensation; touch, pain, pressure, heat, cold, vision, taste, hearing and smell

Arobreal

tree-living; adapted to life in the trees

Adaptive Niche

an organism's entire way of life; where it lives, what it eats, how it gets food, how it avoids predators, and so on

Dental Formula

numerical device that indicates the number of each type of tooth in each side of the upper and lower jaws

Quadrupedal

using all four limbs to support the body during locomotion; basic primate and mammalian form of locomotion

Brachiation

a form of locomotion used by some primates; the animal suspends itself from a branch or other hand-hold and moves by alternately swinging from one forelimb to the other; also called arm swinging

Lumbar

pertaining to the lower back

Rhinarium

the moist, hairless pad at the end of the nose seen in most mammalian species; enhances the animal's ability to smell

Callitrichidae

marmosets and tamarins; Platyrrhines

Cebidae

all other Platyrrhines

Polyandry

a mating system wherein a female continuously

Ischial Collosities

patches of tough, hard skin on the buttocks of Old World monkeys and chimpanzees

Cercopithecidae

all Old World monkeys

Cercopithecines

the subfamily of Old World monkeys that includes baboons, macaques, and quenons

Colobines

common name for members of the subfamily of Old World monkeys that includes the African colobus monkeys and Asian langurs

Sexual Dimorphism

differences in physical characteristics between males and females of the same species

Hominoidea

the formal designation for the superfamily of anthropoids that includes apes and humans

Hylobatidae

lesser apes; gibbons and siamangs

Territorial

pertaining to the protection of all or a part of the area occupied by an animal or group of animals

Frugvigorous

having a diet composed of primarily fruit

Natal Group

the group in which animals are born and raised

Intelligence

mental capacity; ability to learn, reason, or comprehend and interpret information, facts, relationships, and meanings; the capacity to solve problems, whether through the application of previously acquired knowledge or through insight

About this deck

By: Amber Hauck
Textbook: Intro to Physical Anthropology
Created: 2009-11-15
Size: 36 flashcards
Views: 4

About StudyBlue

“Simply amazing. The flash cards are smooth, there are many different types of studying tools, and there is a great search engine. I praise you on the awesomeness.”
Dennis