The Order of Primates - Research Paper Example

Introduction The order of primates consists of prosimians, monkeys, apes and humans. Evidently, taxonomic splitters have classified approximately 350 species. Scientists have warned of the impending danger of extinction posed to many non-human primates such apes, monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees. The major threat of extinction has been fuelled by illegal poaching for sale of game meat as well as trading them as pets. In addition, their extinction has been fuelled by deforestation coupled by encroachment of humans into their natural habitat. The present population of the non-human primates are restricted within their natural habitats of the sub-tropical and tropical areas. The unjust treatments subjected to the non-human primate species denies present and future humanity the chance to study and understand the closest relatives of the human species. Evidently, the study of the non-human primates such as gorillas, apes and chimpanzees offer insightful learning opportunities pertaining to their physical and social characteristics as well as relationship with human behaviour. To this end, the subsequent sections will delve into the primate description of two major non-human species. These are the gorillas and chimpanzees. The description will examine their social and mating structures, food acquisition strategies and intelligent levels. Furthermore, the literature herein will offer comparative analysis between the gorillas and chimpanzees as well examine their regional distribution. The final section will delve into the relationship between the two non-primates and the understanding of human behaviour. Primate Descriptions a) Gorillas The gorilla primates are evidently the largest cohort of the primate family. They also exhibit the closest relation with humans as 98% of their DNA is in conformity to man’s DNA (Jurmain, 157). Gorillas are mostly land dwelling animals since they do not climb trees. The gorillas are classified into two different species with four sub-species that are determined based on their physical characteristics and their geographic location. The first species is Gorilla gorilla with sub-species of G. g. gorilla, from western lowland and G. g. diehli from cross river (Taylor, 100). The second species is Gorilla beringei with sub-species of G. b. Graueri also known as eastern lowland and G. b. beringei also known as mountain gorilla (Taylor, 100). To this end, the subspecies vary in their habitats with distinct physical characteristics and different numbers of populations. In this regard, the Western gorilla and Eastern gorilla species are classified based on their geographic location within their African habitat. The Eastern Gorilla has two subspecies known as the Eastern lowland gorilla and Mountain gorilla. The Eastern lowland gorilla is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Jurmain, 159). Their population is classified as endangered with less than 3000. Their physical characteristics place them as the largest among the gorilla species. They also have shorter hair and teeth compared to the mountain gorillas as well as possessing the longest arms. On the other hand, the mountain gorilla is classified as critically endangered as their population currently stands at less than 720. Their physical characteristics are consistent with angular nostrils, a wide face and a large skull. Moreover, it has longer hair and larger body compared to the eastern lowland gorilla (Taylor, 102). The two sub-species of the Western Gorilla are Western Lowland Gorilla and Cross River Gorilla. The Western lowland gorilla is also classified as critically endangered with a population of less than 100,000 (Taylor, 105). Its species is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, its physical characteristics entail a silver-back colouring on the males which also covers the thighs. The hair on their heads is also redder. On the other hand, the Cross River Gorilla has a population of approximately 300 and labelled as critically endangered (Harcourt and Kelly, 96). Their physical appearances entail shorter feet and hands, smaller teeth and skull compared to other gorillas. In general, gorillas are quadruped and therefore use their knuckles in moving around. To this end, they achieve support and balance for their large bodies by their huge arms (Harcourt and Kelly, 98). There is equally a variance in the size and weight depending on gender and species. In this regard, females have an approximate weight of between 70 to100 kg. They equally have shorter heights of about 1.5 m. Their male counterparts are heavier and taller in comparison. Consequently, they weigh approximately 170kg to 240 kg with height of up to 1.7m ("Endangered Species International."). The gorillas’ diet is largely herbivorous. To this end, they mostly consume stems and leaves of vines, herbs and shrubs. They also at times consume small animals and rotten wood. Evidently, the adult male gorillas consume approximately 20 kg of food daily while the females consume two-thirds of the same amount(Harcourt and Kelly, 97).Their predators in the wild are solely leopards which prefer attacking their young offspring. However, their greatest threat is man due to poaching and habitat encroachment. b) Chimpanzees The Chimpanzees are also known by the scientific name of Pan troglodytes ("Chimpanzee facts."). There are four sub-species of the chimpanzee population. These are the Pan troglodytes troglodytes located in central Africa, Pan troglodytes vellerosus located in Nigeria and Cameroon, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii located eastern Africa and Pan troglodytes verus located in western Africa(Boesch, 155). Their physical characteristics are consistent with a thickset body complete with short legs, long arms and no tail. Furthermore, their bodies are covered with long black hair with exceptions to the face, fingers, toes and ears. Their weight is normally between 55 to 110 pound and a height of between 3 to 4 and a half tall while standing on its bipedal (Boesch, 156). Chimpanzees are regarded as diurnal and often commence their activities in the morning. Evidently, they are omnivorous foragers and feed on fruits as their principal diet. They equally feed on blossoms, leaves and buds. To this end, their diet is composed of approximately 80 different plant vegetation. While feeding, the chimpanzees use their lips to eat up seeds and berries directly of the stem while their hands are used in picking up fruits (Haviland, 69). The chimpanzees’ habitat is mostly the wet savannas and rain forests. Evidently, chimpanzees perform most of their sleeping and feeding functions on the trees. However, they equally spend significant time on land feeding. The population of the chimpanzees in the wild is drastically decreasing due to several threats on their survival. Evidently, the chimpanzees are vulnerable to habitat loss due to man-made activities such as agriculture, mining and forestry in equatorial Africa(Haviland, 72). Furthermore, their population are threatened due to capture by man for scientific drug related research. This has largely been precipitated by the fact that chimpanzees are closely related to human beings and thus susceptible to similar disease affecting man. Furthermore, the unprecedented poaching of chimpanzees to be used as game meat has decimated its populations. Finally, the outbreak of diseases such as haemorrhagic fever and Ebola in Congo and Gabon pose extinction threat to the chimpanzee population. Primate Comparison of Gorillas and Chimpanzees In reference to the two primate groups of gorillas and chimpanzees, there exists inherent similarities and difference pertaining to their behavioural patterns. In relation to the social behaviour and structure, gorillas mostly live in troops or groups composed of two or more than 30 members. In this regard, each group is composed of two to ten females and offspring as well as one or more male silver-backs. The troop is mostly led by a dominant silver-back male. The gorillas are normally reserved, peaceful and shy creatures that rarely attack human beings unless under provocation. The male silver-backs at times engage in bloody duels when fighting over home ranges or female groups. Evidently, the morning and evening periods are normally spent feeding. During midday, the groups spend the time sleeping, grooming or playing. The grooming is normally undertaken on the young or silver-back male by the females. The gorillas are largely terrestrial creatures and do not spend their time on trees. Therefore, during night time they make sleeping nests of branches and leaves. The social behaviour of the chimpanzees also exhibits living in groups troops of about 30 to 80 chimpanzees. However, in contrast to the social troops exhibited by the gorillas, there are three pertinent differences in their organization. There exists social groupings between the mothers and their offspring which are normally the most stable. In this regard, the chimpanzee mothers are known to travel alone with their offspring. There are also social groupings between females only, and are normally formed in order to avoid aggression from their male counterparts. The males are equally known to have pure male social groupings. The third social grouping exists between males and females with a dominant male leader. The chimpanzees are equally terrestrial and arboreal (Haviland, 68). To this end, their daytime is mostly spent on the ground as they travel by walking on their knuckles. Chimpanzees also exhibit grooming functions similar to the gorillas. During food acquisition, the male members of the troop normally cooperate together as a group when hunting for meat. In addition, they are known to use tools in order to access food. These include use of anvil-like rocks in cracking open nuts, and use of sticks to fish for termites. The male members are equally known for rarely living the group they were born. The social function of grooming assists in comforting and calming group members which consequently strengthen inter-personal bonds. During the night, all the chimpanzees retreat to the tree tops to construct their sleeping nests. In relation to mating among the gorillas, the dominant leader and male silver-back of the troop has exclusive mating rights with all the adult females. On some occasion, the silver-back allows the other male adults to mate with the females. Evidently, upon reaching maturity the offspring normally moves from the group in search of a mate. To this end, a female offspring is regarded as mature and she emigrates to another group of her choice. The female is free to change family troops severally throughout the course of her life. Sexually mature males at times try to overthrow a dominant silver-back in an existent group by mostly end up as solitary males for a few years. However, a non-related female can join with the solitary male and form a new troop. In comparison to other apes, the gorillas exhibit low frequency and duration of sexual activity. Since the dominant male silver-back has exclusive rights for mating, their reproductive success is dependent on the maintenance of such rights. Despite of the quiet nature of the gorillas, they are abnormally loud during mating. The females normally give birth to one offspring after eight and a half months. The young ones begin walking after three to six months and weaned off by the age of three years. Evidently, after every four years the adult females are capable of giving birth to another offspring. The lifespan of gorillas is approximately 35 years while in the wild. On the other hand, mating period among the chimpanzees is evident when the female chimpanzee goes into oestrus. This normally occurs for approximately 34 to 35 days (Boesch, 152). To this end, the bare skin of the females bottom becomes pink and swollen when she is on heat. In this regard, the female mates with several males as opposed to only the dominant male in relation to the gorillas. The females normally conceive one offspring that develops slowly like a human baby and remains clinged to the mothers breast. The offspring is able to sit up within five months before standing by supporting itself within six months. The infant suckles and sleeps by its mother for about three years. At four years, it becomes independent and separates from the mother. To this end, sexual maturity is attained between ages 8 and 10. Primate Regions Gorillas are presently found in wet, tropical forests that are often in re-growing or secondary forest. They are equally found along the edges of forests where the cleared vegetation have left low and edible vegetation cover. Evidently, the mountain gorillas tend to live up the cloud forests or mountain forests that into heights of almost 11,000 feet. These mountainous habitat for the mountain gorillas are located at the borders of Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. The Eastern lowland gorillas are located in tropical forests that have low heights of up to 8,000 feet. These are predominantly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the border of Rwanda with Uganda. The Western lowland gorillas are situated in the lowland regions of tropical rainforests found in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The status of the Cross River gorillas and the Western lowland gorillas has been classified as critically endangered. On the other hand, the mountain gorillas and Eastern lowland gorillas have been classified as endangered (Imbriaco, 23). To this end, the threat of extinction of these gorilla species is posed by the threat of man’s activity such as poaching for game meat, deforestation for agricultural and mining activities in the affected areas. Chimpanzees were once spread all over the equatorial belt of Africa stretching from east to west coast (Waal, 224). Presently, their populations are limited to where tracts of such forests are still evident. To this end, the greatest populations are present in Cameroon, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The chimpanzee status is currently listed as endangered. Its endangered status is mostly due to habitat loss precipitated by human activities such as agriculture, forestry and mining (Waal, Frans 126). To this end, deforestation has greatly decimated the tropical habitats of the chimpanzee. Furthermore, there has been an increased threat of poaching of chimpanzees for bush meat. In addition, the exposure to diseases such as Ebola poses an increased threat to the survival of the chimpanzees. Insight into Ancient and/or Modern Human Behaviour The scientific study of the physical and social structure of the two non-human primates, i.e. gorillas and chimpanzees offer intricate relationship with the ancient and modern human behaviour. Evidently, scientific research has revealed that gorillas exhibit D.N.A make up that is a 98% match to that of the humans. To this end, its physical attributes show an intricate familiarity to that of humans. Consequently, archaeological scientists have strongly correlated the ancient evolution of man to that of the ape lineage. Furthermore, the chimpanzee is credited with having the most social and intelligent characteristics similar to that of human beings. To this end, its ability to correctly utilize tools in extracting food points towards the evolution of the human mind in terms of technical applications. Furthermore, there social construct of both chimpanzees and gorillas exhibit cooperation, family set ups and bonding and protective mechanisms that are inherently similar to human actions and values. Conclusion The primate species possess intricate relationships in terms of their physical and social construct. Evidently, there are inherent behavioural and social qualities evident in non-human primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees that offer basis for scientific inquiry pertaining to historical and contemporary evolutionary theories of man. Consequently, there should be widespread efforts that seek to conserve the existence of other primate species under the threat of extinction. References Boesch, Christophe. The real chimpanzee: sex strategies in the forest. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Print. "Chimpanzee facts." Out to Africa op safari door Afrika. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. "Endangered Species International."Endangered Species International. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. Harcourt, A. H., and Kelly J. Stewart.Gorilla society: conflict, compromise, and cooperation between the sexes. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. Print. Haviland, William A.. The essence of anthropology. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007. Print. Imbriaco, Alison. The mountain gorilla: help save this endangered species!. [Library ed. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2006. Print. Jurmain, Robert. Essentials of physical anthropology. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001. Print. Taylor, Andrea B., and Michele L. Goldsmith. Gorilla biology a multidisciplinary perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Print. Waal, F. B. M. de. Chimpanzee politics: power and sex among apes. Rev. ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. Print. Waal, Frans de. The primate mind: built to connect with other minds. Cambridge (Mass.): Harvard university press, 2012. Print. Read More