Primate Ethology

• orangutans are the largest arboreal animal
• orangutans are diurnal
• orangutans find most food in highest part of canopy
• bimaturism: 2 types of mature males
• flanged males have large cheek pouches and laryngeal sacs
• unflanged males have a smaller body and are less preferable to females
• female orangutans live in groups, have long relationship with offspring
• male orangutans not at sexual maturity can associate with females
• tool use in primates varies between groups and location, social learning within groups
• chimpanzees demonstrate:

  • reasoned thought
  • abstraction
  • generalization
  • symbolic representation
  • concept of self
  • grief