This section, as well as the next section, will focus on primate adaptations. Specifically, this section will examine features of the skull and teeth, and the diversity of these features among the order of primates. Some of the traits that have been previously identified will return in this section.
Teeth are an excellent predictor of a primate’s primary diet. An animal needs to have teeth that are specially formulated for their most commonly eaten food. An animal that has teeth adapted to a different diet may find it difficult to eat, and may eventually die due to an inability to efficiently feed. While primates will often eat many different food items, many will have a primary diet type that will generally fall into one of three categories: insectivores (insects), folivores (leaves), and frugivores (fruit).
Examine the dentition in the images at this station to fill in the chart in the lab. Use your observations and the information in the table to predict the probable diet type of each specimen.
While all primates have canines, some have special canine adaptations. Some primates have a canine-premolar honing complex (CP3 complex) composed of a larger and sharper canine, a sectorial premolar and a noticeable diastema. These features sharpen both the upper canine and the lower first premolar when the primate chews. This is found in only some primates, most specifically those that tend to eat a diet that requires slicing or tearing. Canine size can also predict the social grouping for a primate, which will be discussed further in our next lab.
On your own skull, use a measuring tape (or you can use a string, mark off the distance, and then use a ruler to measure the string) to take the measurements listed in the lab. You may need to recruit a partner to help you. Note that we will actually be overestimating each measurement, in a lab setting, a spreading caliper would be used to measure the distance between the two points so you didn’t have to go up and over the cranium.
Identify the following components of the Canine-Premolar Honing Complex:
Diastema
Sectorial Premolar
Large Canine
Examine the dentition in the images at this station to identify the presence or absence of the honing complex.