Locomotor Patterns

Answer A: Environment

Lemurs: Lemurs like the treetops of tropical rainforests.  Lemurs were and still are native to the country Madagascar.  Lemur communities’ diversity and complexity increase with floral diversity and precipitation and are highest in rainforests that are of the east coast of Africa which are adjacent to the island of Madagascar, where rainfall and floral diversity are at their highest.  Lemurs spend most of their time in trees or bushes.  Lemurs that stay awake during the day live in groups and nocturnal lemurs normally live alone. 

Spider Monkey:  Spider monkeys live in tropical rainforests of South and Central America, from Southern Mexico to Brazil.  These new world monkeys live in the upper layers of the rainforest and forage in the high canopies.  Spider monkeys prefer large tracts of moist evergreen forests and they prefer undisturbed primary forests.  Spider monkeys are well adjusted to the life in the treeptops of the rainforest because they are strong and agile and can find food with the resources that they have. 

Baboon: Baboons are found in Africa.  Baboons are mostly vegetarian but they do prey on fish, birds, and small antelope.  They are active at irregular times throughout the day and night.  In Africa, baboons can raid human dwellings and have been known to prey on sheep and goats.  Baboons are extremely adaptable, the major requirements that baboons need for any habitat that they are in is water, and safe sleeping places.  Baboons like to sleep either in tall trees or on cliff faces.

Gibbons:  Gibbons live in subtropical rainforests from northeast India to Indonesia and north to southern China, including the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Java.  Gibbons spend less than 1% on the ground, which helps to keep them safer.  Gibbons move from tree to tree by swinging their arms between branches.  Gibbons live in sleeping trees, which are the tallest trees in the rain forest.  These trees keep Gibbons safe from predators on the ground while they are sleeping.  The male and female gibbons sleep in separate trees.  Gibbons are known to sing throughout the day unless they are sleeping. 

Chimpanzee:  Chimpanzees habitats vary, but include dry savannas, evergreen rainforests, montane forests, swamp forests, and dry woodland.  To be able to live in all different types of habitats chimpanzees have to be very adaptable.  Chimpanzees live in large communities ranging anywhere from 10-100. 

Answer B: Locomotor Patterns

Lemurs:  For the most part Lemurs are quadrupedal meaning they walk on all fours.  However, they are also well-known leapers and climbers. 

Spider Monkey:  There are different types of locomotion that spider monkeys use.  The types of locomotion are quadrupedal (which is using all four limbs for locomotion as seen while walking or running) and suspensory locomotion (which is used when hanging, climbing or moving through the trees). 

Baboon:  Baboons locomotor pattern is quadrupedal and on their digits. Walking on their digits means walking on their toes with the heels not touching the ground.  This is known as being a digitigrade quadrupedalism

Gibbon: Gibbons main locomotor pattern is brachiating.  When gibbons brachiate, they use four fingers of their hands like a hook, they do not use their thumbs.  Gibbons are known for being very acrobatic and agile.  Gibbons lives are spent mainly in the trees.  It is very rare for a gibbon to be on the ground but when they are they walk bipedally ( on two legs).  Gibbons do not know how to swim, so they avoide water.  Gibbons are also able to walk along small branches high up in the air and stretch their arms our to help them keep their balance. 

Chimpanzee:  Chimpanzee usually walks on all fours, which mean they walk on the soles of their feet and the knuckles of their hands.  However, chimpanzees can also walk upright, meaning they will walk on their feet when they need to use their arms to carry something.  Chimpanzees are also known for their ability to swing from branch to branch in the trees, which is known as brachiating. 

Answer C:

For the Spider Monkey and the Gibbon, I would say that the way they move ( locomotor patterns) was influenced by the primates environment greatly.  If these three primates were not able to hang from a tree or able to swing from branch to branch and had to walk on the ground they would be more prone to being eaten by a bigger predator.  With the ability to hang from the trees and swing from the branches they are able to stay up in the high trees and keep themselves safe from the predators on the ground. 

For the Chimpanzee I would say that the locomotion trait has been adapted to the environment.  Chimpanzees are primates that can adapt to their environment really quickly.  The way they move adjust to where they are living.  Chimpanzee’s are able to walk on all fours or if they need to carry food or something else they are able to walk on two of their limbs.  Chimpanzees are also able to climb trees and suspend themselves from branches.  I think the chimpanzees locomotion trait works to their advantage sine they are able to adapt easily to any environment that they are in. 

Baboons walk on all fours and their digits which is the tips of their toes and the knuckles of their hands.  This locomotion trait I believe was adapted to help the baboons keep their hands and the soles of their feet from becoming to rough since they are not able to climb trees or hang from branches. 

Lemurs adapted to their environment rather well.  Since they are either on the ground or in the trees the locomotion movement of Lemurs has adapted well to their environment.  They are able to move on the ground rather quickly and if need be can leap into the trees and have great balance.

I would say that the influence the environment has on physical and behavioral traits has a huge impact.  I say this because we adapt to whatever situation or wherever we are so that we are compatible with what we are doing.  I believe the same is for primates.  The primates adapted to the environment that they were dealt.  Some primates got pushed out of their natural environment and was relocated to a new one.  With the new environment comes new issues, such as types of food, shelter, and the make up of the ground.  The primates learned how to walk to keep their feet and hands from becoming to rough and other primates figured out how to leap into the higher trees or keep their balance on a slimmer tree branch.  The environment impacts our traits immensely.  

Chimpanzee:

Baboon:

Spider Monkey:

Gibbons:

Lemur: