Question

While the book confuses the taxonomy of Haplorrhines a bit, it does go into good detail regarding Anthropoid diversity and morphology.

• How is it that Anthropoids differ from Prosimians (what are the primary morphological differences)?

• Explain the adaptive purpose/significance of the closure of the eye orbits. Do you think that this morphological change could also relate to the fused mandible?

Answer 1

Ans1)

Characteristics	anthropoids	prosimians
Body Size	larger size	smaller body size
Brain size and skull	larger brain Fused skull	smaller brain Skull do not fused
Mandibles	fused	mandible do not fused
Nails vs claw	nails present	claw at index finger while nail at remaining 4 .
Eye orbit	closed	open

Ans2) the significance of closure of eye orbit is that it protects eye from external trauma, one hypothesis also states its role in mastication process by providing high mechanical forces bite. Yes I think the closure of eye orbit could also relate to fused mandible which helpful in mastication of tough food such as seed by increasing the mechanical forces at bites by fusion of mandibles.