What defines primates as a taxonomic order is a list of physical features that a
ID: 254479 • Letter: W
Question
What defines primates as a taxonomic order is a list of physical features that are the result of a recent common ancestry. For this discussion board I would like you to share your favorite primate adaptation with the rest of the class. Tell us why you think that adaptation is great and briefly tell us how primate life would be different without that trait Also, your chosen features does not have to be at at the level of taxonomic order. For example, you can talk about hominoidea which are at the superfamily level and discuss the absence of a tail.Explanation / Answer
As for me, my favourite adaptation for primates is the rotating shoulder joint. This adaptation has resulted from the arboreal heritage of the primates. The primate collar bone is retained at the pectoral girdle, this retention allows for the flexibility and mobility of the broad shoulder joint. As for example, the mobility of shoulder joints is much more owing to the dorsal position of scapula. The rib cages are broad enough so as to act as supporting structures from front to back.This flexible shoulder joint helpstem in swinging by the arms from one tree limb to another; known as brachiation. This is further made better by short fingernails, long curved fingers, reduced thumbs, freely rotating wrist. They are used for grasping and searching for food and picking them from terminalbranches of the tree. It alsosignifies an evolutionary aspect. They feed themselves and their young while swinging. This also helps them to easily escape them from predators.
Without broad and flexible shoulder joints, the arboreal lifestyle of primates would not have been possible. They require this from feeding, grasping to expliting food resources. Brachiation would not have been possible which could have resulted in their dearth; they would be easily attacked by predators etc.
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