Table of Contents
What is an anatomical trait that is unique to tarsiers?
Tarsiers also share traits with anthropoid primates. They have more enclosed, bony orbits instead of a post-orbital bar, lac the dental comb seen in lemurs and lorises. Lack a dental clomb. Like anthropoids, tarsiers have a shorter snout and a dry nose instead of a wet rhinarium.
Do tarsiers have a bony ear tube?
In tarsiers, as in higher primates, the major blood supply to the brain comes through the promontory branch of the internal carotid (Fig. 2.13). The tympanic ring lies external to the auditory bulla and extends laterally to form a bony tube, the external auditory meatus.
How can you tell if a skull is a primate?
Features that distinguish the primate skull from that of most other mammals include orbital convergence and orbital frontation, the presence of a postorbital bar, and an increase in cranial base flexion along with a decrease in the cranial base angle.
Do tarsiers have Postorbital closure?
In higher primates, and to a lesser extent in tarsiers, the orbit is further walled off behind by a bony partition, the postorbital plate; thus, the eyeball lies within a bony cup. This is described as postorbital closure.
Why are tarsiers eyes so big?
Tarsiers originate from the Philippines and nearby islands and are mostly active at night. However, they lack a reflective tapetum lucidum characteristic of most nocturnal animals so having very large eyes helps to maximize their sensitivity in low light.
Why do tarsiers have long fingers?
Tarsiers have long, thin fingers, with the longest third finger about the same length as the upper arm. Their fingers are tipped with sticky pads that help them grip and cling to surfaces. The second and third fingers bear long, curved claws which are used for grooming (these are sometimes called “toilet claws”).
How do you identify different skulls?
The most effective means of identifying a skull to species is with the use of a dichotomous key. A dichotomous key allows a person, through a series of questions, to identify an organism to species by process of elimination. Plants, fish and even skulls can be identified using this method.
What morphological features do tarsiers share with strepsirrhines?
Tarsiers also share some of the primitive features of strepsirrhines such as an unfused mandibular symphysis, but tarsiers do not have a tooth comb. Tarsiers are unique in having two grooming claws on each foot rather than one as in strepsirrhines.
Do tarsiers have a postorbital septum?
Some species, such as Tarsiers, have a postorbital septum.
Can tarsiers turn their heads?
In the mammal kingdom, the unique spinal morphology of tarsiers makes them capable of turning their heads nearly 180° in each direction, allowing them the ability to rotate their heads almost 360°. This is exceeded only by owls who can rotate their head the farthest of any animal.
What can skulls tell you?
Animal skulls can tell us many things about creatures and how they once survived in their natural environ- ment. A few relatively simple observations of an animal’s skull can tell us what the animal ate, whether the animal was predator or prey, and which senses were most important to the animal’s survival.
What derived traits do tarsiers possess?
Like all other haplorhine primates, the tarsiers are very probably derived from diurnal ancestors, as they have lost the tapetum lucidum in their eyes, a reflecting layer that maximizes light-gathering capacity. By contrast, this reflecting tapetum is characteristic of all nocturnal strepsirhine (prosimian) primates.
What is postorbital septum?
The primary objective of this research is to clarify the role of an anatomical structure known as the postorbital septum. This is a thin sheet of bone which forms the lateral aspect of the rear of the orbit.
Which animal can turn its head 360?
In an Exorcist-style display of flexibility, owls can rotate their necks a maximum of 270 degrees without breaking blood vessels or tearing tendons. A Great Horned Owl syncs its ears and eyes to unleash it’s silent assault on prey.