Patterns of Dentition Effecting Diets in Primates!

We were asked to find and express one particular type of trait across the five categories of primates we were given. Based off the first initial of my last name, I had to find a trait relating to the diet of these primates. The common trait relating to their diets, resides in their Dentition!

Lemurs (Prosimians/Strepsirhini)- Lemurs are primates found only on the African island of Madagascar and some tiny neighboring islands. Overgrown forests seem to be the location where the highest numbers of Lemurs are found. During the rain season there is more food in those areas! b) Lemur dentition contains 2 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars and 3 molars, making a dental formula of 2:1:3:3 = 36. Lemurs contain what is known as the “toothcomb”, found at the bottom of the jaw, which contains 6 teeth normally (unless one is lost!), which are finely spread out. The toothcomb is usually used for grooming, but can have other uses such as food procurement and bark gouging. Lemurs diets contain insects, berries, fruits and nuts. Since the lemurs teeth are not as "equipped" as, lets say the Baboons teeth, their teeth won't allow for the diet to consist of larger game. c) Since lemurs are only found in tiny neighboring islands around Madagascar and on the island itself, the toothcomb comes in handy for these little guys to maintain a clean, groomed coat in the unpredictable climate!

Spider Monkey (New World Monkey/Platyrrhini)- Spider monkeys (of several species) live in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America and occur as far north as Mexico. Spider monkeys live in evergreen rainforests, semi deciduous and mangrove forests, almost never coming to the ground. In these forests they live mostly in the upper canopy, preferring undisturbed high forest.

b) Spider Monkey’s dentition contains 2 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars and 3 molars, making a dental formula of 2:1:3:3 = 36. These monkeys reflect dentition of “old world monkeys”. The spider monkey’s teeth match that of their body’s, small in structure. Although their teeth help them in chewing the food, it’s their crafty use of rocks used for digging up plants as well as cracking open seeds and smashing pieces of lizards into bite-size pieces. In addition, they use twigs to get insects out of small, constricted crevices and other places. c) Since their teeth are rather small, and not as useful as their tools and hands, they have evolved a nifty prehensile tail, meaning that they have the ability to physically grasp something. Living in rain forests, smaller teeth are fitting for the setting; eating fruits and nuts and using their tails for preparing/catching the food.

Baboon (Old World Monkey/Cercopithecidae)- There are five different species of baboons. All of them live in Africa or Arabia. Baboons are some of the world's largest monkeys. Baboons generally prefer savanna and other semi-arid habitats, though a few live in tropical forests. b) Baboon (Catarrhines) dentition contains 2 premolars and 3 molars, making a dental formula of 2:1:2:3 = 32 teeth. Males can have canine teeth as long as 2 inches! c) These long canine teeth give the baboons an edge for hunting, since they are omnivorous, meaning they have a diet consisting of both meat and vegetables. 

The environment they live in such as Africa, allows for them to hunt for larger game and therefore need these big canines! Also, baboons are known for their aggression, when they feel frightened, threatened or are possibly showing off they will flash their big teeth, and in some cases use them. Using their teeth would allow for the long canine to stab, tear and rip their meals apart.

Gibbon (Lesserape/Hylobatidae)-
 These acrobatic mammals are found only in the tropical forests of southeastern Asia, including on Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and other islands as well as the mainland and are perfectly adapted to life in the trees and rarely descend to the ground. b) Gibbons (Catarrhines) dentition contains 2 premolars and 3 molars, making a dental formula of 2:1:2:3 = 32 teeth. Their teeth reflect their sexual dimorphism and thus their canine’s will vary in size. c) Gibbon’s rarely descend to the ground, and live in lush forests, with this being said their teeth have evolved to support living in the trees. Being omnivorous, their teeth (high cusps) allow for them to grind food and maintain their diets up in the trees!

Chimpanzee (Great ape/Hominidae)- Chimpanzees live in social communities of several dozen animals, and can habituate themselves to African rain forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Chimpanzees are found throughout 21 different countries in western and central Africa where they are known to inhabit a variety of different regions from the tropical, humid rainforests to the dryer and more arid regions of the savanna and open woodlands. Chimps are mainly found in rain forests and wet savannas. While they spend equal time on land and in trees, they do most of their feeding and sleeping in trees. b) Chimpanzees (Catarrhines) have 2 premolars and 3 molars, making a dental formula of 2:1:2:3 = 32 teeth. c) Chimpanzees are omnivorous and their diets contain hundreds of different types of food. Living in 21 different countries, the canines found in chimpanzees come in handy when tearing their food with their teeth and hands. They tend to stick to plants, fruits and insects when they eat!