Comparative Primate Post

Lemurs

a.       Lemurs unlike other primates are able to adapt to any environment that benefits them. They can be mainly found in the Madagascar islands or rain forests. Lemurs are always on the move rather than staying in one particular region. They can be on the ground on dry and hot places or the forests where it is moist. They stick around the forests because of the rain which produces food and since they sleep during the day they make sure they are far away and high from predators.

b.      What sums up their diet? The lemurs will eat what they can from what that environment has to offer. They mainly seek fruit depending on the season, lemurs are very smart and know what types of fruits/food will be producing/available while they stay at that particular environment. They also eat tree bark, sap, small insects, leaves and flowers.

c.       Since lemurs are mainly found in forests. They tend to stay on the trees due to predators. They eat what grows from the trees such as fruits ( bananas, apples, or small insects) When no fruits are producing they leave the forests and adapt to the next environment which could be hot, dry places or the ground, where they will adapt easily and eat what is at hand. This could range from smaller insects to flowers. Depending on the time of the year they will be on the move making sure they have what they need.

d.      

Summary

            I think the influence that the environment has on the lemur’s behavior and physical traits are very strong. I mean even though they are adaptable primates they depend on their current environment to supply food and a safe place to sleep since they sleep during the day. They protect themselves by staying above ground and far away from predators reach. They will also eat whatever is growing on trees or ground and the insects that crawl around them. They will eat whatever the environment has to offer and they will adapt until they are ready to move on to the next environment and come back when the rain season comes again.

Spider Monkey

A.    Spider monkeys live in rainforests mainly found in southern Mexico and Brazil. These primates look for broad regions to have home range to cover. They like living in moist areas and if they must they will go to dry places. They like having a type of cover of their heads as well so they will use the trees branches’ and leaves as a canopy. Spider monkeys will also live in places where they haven’t been disturbed by humans since they are constantly getting captivated or experimented on.

B.     Spider monkeys main priority is fruit. They depend on their fruit that their habitat supplies. Only 10% of the foods that these monkeys consume are anything other than fruit. Spider Monkeys eat a couple of times a day and they just don’t nibble or chew on their food they swallow it whole. So that they don’t have to go searching for food for some time. I found that the female monkeys are in charge of their diet schedule and she will let them know when it’s time for the next eating schedule.

C.     Well since spider monkeys only like being in rainforests there only food is what’s growing on the trees in that particular habitat. The primates trait is easily influenced by the environment in my opinion. These monkeys really have no choice and depend heavily on the fruits that grow. Plus they like being covered and it would be hard to find spots on the ground with cover let alone finding fruit.

D.    

Summary

      What I found really interesting was how the female monkeys are in charge of their eating habits or diet I should say. The spider monkeys eat a few times a day but the most fun fact was that they swallow the whole fruit without biting eat so they save time without having to hunt for it. They also like being covered by shade and staying in the rain forests regions and like having a broad home away from predators in this case humans. Their behavior and physical state are heavily influenced by their habit and what they eat.

Baboon

A.    Baboons prefer savanna or arid habitats or ground environments, although some could be found in forests. They spend most of their time on the ground and on trees when eating, sleeping or hiding from danger. All of the baboons live in south Africa or Arabia.

B.     A similarity to the lemurs these baboons are opportunistic eaters and will eat anything pretty much to satisfy their hunger. They really like crops, fruits, grass, seeds and meat. They will eat smaller animals such as birds and antelopes.

C.     Well for the baboons their trait or their diet is influenced by their environment and will make the most of what they have. If they are in the forests they will eat fruits or leaves and if they are on the ground where they spend most of their time they will eat smaller animals, crops and grass. They will adapt to their environment and eat whatever they can. Their diet is not an issue or complicated in achieving their hunger.

D.    

Summary

I didn't think a primate small as the baboon could eat other animals or crave meat. The baboon is much larger than the lemur and spider monkey and all are alike in their environment. The baboons mainly like staying on the ground and will hide from dangers when needed to. Their behavior on the ground has made them stronger in a way and would have to stand up to other animals for protection. Baboons work together in packs when looking for food or fighting of predators. The most interesting fact about these baboons is that they eat anything as their environment changes their diet changes causing them to adapt to new environments easily.

Gibbon

A.    These primates are considered arboreal class of monkeys which means they will always be in the trees. These types of monkeys can be found in India, Indonesia and china, mainly in the forests. The gibbons will be found in the trees and move from tree to tree by swinging on the branches. They also don’t really have a place to call home since they don’t make a nest they just swing around trees.

B.     Their diet includes a variety of foods. What they like the most is fruit and will move from place to place to find what is growing. Most of their diet is made up of 60% just to be fruit. They also eat twigs, flowers, insects and figs. They will also eat bird eggs when they find them in the nests. They will eat throughout the day and whatever they can find.

C.     Since these monkeys are arboreal which they like being in the trees, they were forced to eat fruits. I think it had a big influence and that’s why their diet is made up of fruits.

D.    

Summary

            I think the gibbons were very influenced by the environment due to the fact that they are arboreal monkeys. They will always be on the trees and they learned to swing from the branches. Their diet consists primarily on fruit which grows from the trees they currently inhabit.

 Chimpanzee

A.    Chimpanzees are known to live in harmony with other animal. Whether it’s in rain forests, grasslands and woodlands they are able to habituate and socialize in that environment. They can easily adapt to the trees which where they spend most of their time eating and sleeping, but they like being on the ground as well where they will interact with other chimpanzees and catch insects.

B.     Chimpanzees have a variety of foods they eat. They have no particular diet but they will eat fruits, insects, animals, grass. Generally the chimpanzees are known to be green eaters and like fruit. While researching I found out that chimpanzees have over 100 known foods that they eat. They are not picky eaters and will not be affected to the environment they inhabit.

C.     Just like the other primates they are all influenced by the rain forests where they will eat or sleep. They are protected when they are up above by other predators and since the fruit grows from trees they eat that constantly making it there primary food. They easily adapted to the environment and make the most of it. If they are on the grasslands they eat green foods or insects. No matter where they are at they will adapt and the environment will influence them and they know what to eat and where to get it.

D.    

Summary

            To finalize the chimpanzees are easily adaptable to any environment and will behave accordingly to what’s in front of them. What I learned is that they are the closets primate to humans and are very clever. They will use branches while on the ground to dig up other animals or even use a rock to smash nuts. They also know to eat fruit from the trees and make nest to sleep. Regarding their diet trait they really don’t have a problem with that since they could eat so many foods whether on a tree or ground.