The primate pattern - Essay Example

Task Primates are mammals that are a human being’s closest biological family group that comprise approximate 200 living speciesin more than 50 genera. Primates are believed to have originated from their insectivore stem; however, this transition is yet to be established by fossil evidence. The prehistoric primate most looked like the lemurs and the tarsier species. The two types of primate include upper primate and the non-human species, the upper primate comprises of human beings, apes and monkeys while, non-human species are divided into the ancient world monkeys and new world monkeys.

There are various hypotheses that attempt to explicate the original evolutionary divergence of the privates but the three hypotheses are the main in the evolutionary process. The Arboreal Hypothesis was advanced by the Elliot Smith and was later supported by Wood Jones. The Elliot Smith hypothesized that the ancient primates were terrestrial animals that at the end came to dwell in arboreal habitant because of the selective pressure divergent from their original terrestrial way of life (Srivastava 18).

In the arboreal environments, the primate vision and the sense of touch became greater senses compared to the sense of smell that led to developing new methods of adaptation essential in the arboreal settings. The functional arboreal hypothesis lacked supportive and clear evidence to explain how primate adapted their terrestrial style into the arboreal environment; therefore, criticism led to evolution of other alternative hypotheses. Cartmill introduced alternative hypothesis called Visual Predation that would explicate the progression of primates.

He demonstrated that the morphological pattern of the primates do not indicate arboreal adaption as shown by Smith, rather adaptation to feeding mode to bushy forest in the ground where they hunted for fruits and insects. Therefore, it is clear that little primitive, mainly insectivorous and ancient primate were capable to reach for the branches using their prehensile limbs and catch prey with a forelimb while judging the way with close-set eyes (Ravosa and Dagosto 12). Consequently, it is comprehensible from that ancient primate relied deeply on the sense of vision that why the theory is known as visual predation hypothesis.

Similar to the first hypothesis, the Cartmill hypothesis was criticized because it was yet to be proven and the primate pre-adapted for the arboreal living. However, it is harmless to point out that the arboreal and visual predations are not mutually exclusive explanation, but are rather complementary to one another. The angiosperm exploitation hypothesis emerged after the Cartmill hypothesis lacked substantial evidence to prove the theory. The angiosperm theory argues that most of the primates are omnivorous, and exceptionally few consume more insects than forest branches.

In addition, the nocturnal species depend more on hearing and olfaction than trying to grasp insects; therefore, the primate sight system were developed in reaction to feeding on fruits and insects in the forest branches. The Sussman expanded the theory by explaining that the evolution of currents primate is an example of the rapid diversification of the theory and birds and that connected in a firm co- evolutionary association. The theory highlights that the primate adaptations were due to necessitate exploiting little food that was available on flourishing flowering plants; hence, a product of diffuse co evolutionary relations with angiosperms developed.

In conclusion, there is no significant factor given to explain the primate patterns shift that led to the primate family, angiosperm evolution contributed to search of fruits, insects, and flowers. To exploit the availability of the food, the primate had to become arboreal and increase the traits of virtual predation; therefore, the three hypotheses are mutually interdependent. Finally, there are many types of living primate in the ecology, these include monkeys, apex, and human beings, in addition, the angiosperm exploitation hypothesis is the current theory, and most people support it due to practical evidences.

Works CitedRavosa, Matthew & Dagosto Marian. Primate origins: adaptations and evolution. New York: Springer Press, 2007. Print Srivastava, P.R. Morphology of the Primates and Human Evolution. New Delhi: PHI Learning Private press, 2009. Print.