Primate in Zoo: Snow Monkeys (Japanese Macaques)
Visit the Central Park Zoo at 64th St and 5th Ave. There are only two species of primates at the Zoo: the snow monkeys outside and ruffed lemurs in the Tropic Zone.
While at the Zoo, take time to closely observe the primates that are there (including humans if you wish). You should spend at least 15 minutes watching the lemurs inside and 20 minutes watching the snow monkeys outside. Answer the following questions (you can find this information on the signs by each species or you can ask the zoo keepers questions):
scientific name: ex. Lemur cattus (the ring-tailed lemurs)
what family they are in: prosimians, New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, or apes.
natural habitat: forest, savanna, etc.
diet: if not on the signs, ask the zoo keepers
country/area of origin
While you watch each group of animals observe their interactions with each other (or lack of them in some cases) and answer the following questions:
1. What kind of locomotion do they use (i.e., ground running and walking, semi-brachiation, etc. See the Week 11 Lecture Notes for these terms)?
2. Can you tell which are the dominant and subservient individuals?
Can you tell which are the males or females and which are juveniles and which are adults?
3. Can you infer anything about familial or friend connections between individuals?
4. Are there friendly or hostile interactions?
5. Who grooms whom and under what circumstances?
6. Do the animals take notice of the visitors?
7. Use your powers of observation and your artists’ eyes and tell me what you see. If you want, you can add sketches or photos of the animals.
Scientific Name: Macaca fuscata
Family: Cercopithecidae, Old World Monkeys
Natural Habitat: Subtropical and Subarctic Forests
Diet: Plants, Insects, Vegetables, Small Animals
Country/Area of Origin: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan
Questions:
1. What kind of locomotion do they use (i.e., ground running and walking, semi-brachiation, etc. See the Week 11 Lecture Notes for these terms)?
Quadrupedal walking and running.2. Can you tell which are the dominant and subservient individuals?Can you tell which are the males or females and which are juveniles and which are adults?
The snow monkeys exhibit sexual dimorphism, so one can tell females from the males in their adulthood (females have more elongated nipples, males have distinguishable male genitalia). However, at a young age, it is hard to differentiate males from females. Also, dominant and subservient individuals can only be differentiated through observance of their behaviors. Generally, alpha males are more hostile towards other males.3. Can you infer anything about familial or friend connections between individuals?
They are closely knit with the populations that are composed of more females than males, but there are alpha males in the group who exert dominance and lead the group.4. Are there friendly or hostile interactions?
There are friendly interactions between females and the young, and most of the hostile interactions are between males, probably due to fighting over the alpha male status.5. Who grooms whom and under what circumstances?
Females usually groom the young monkeys and other monkeys in its group for any circumstance.6. Do the animals take notice of the visitors?
During my visit, some members of the group noticed the group of visitors briefly and went on their ways or back to what they were doing7. Use your powe...
👀 Other Visitors are Viewing These APA Essay Samples:
-
Genetic Mutations: Types and Effects
1 page/≈275 words | 2 Sources | APA | Biological & Biomedical Sciences | Coursework |
-
Milkweed Plant
2 pages/≈550 words | 3 Sources | APA | Biological & Biomedical Sciences | Coursework |
-
Australia’s Travel Health Notices
1 page/≈275 words | No Sources | APA | Biological & Biomedical Sciences | Coursework |