Pin primate wisc edu orangutan

DATE OF ATTENDANCE _____________________ ANTH 102 Online – Physical Anthropology

Professor González

Miramar College

PRIMATE OBSERVATION LAB

San Diego Zoo Field Trip Assignment

For this assignment you will be asked to identify and observe primates at the San Diego Zoo. There are two parts to the assignment; please complete both parts fully and carefully. You may visit the exhibit with other students; however, you must complete your own assignment.

· Please write legibly! You must turn in a handwritten copy of this assignment, even if you choose to rewrite it on the computer (turn in both copies).

· Please attach your ticket if you do not go with the class on the specified field trip date.

The assignment is worth up to 30 points and may be turned in to me over e-mail, pasted into the Zoo Assignment page, or dropped off at my office on campus at H-110D before the due date.

SECTION 1: Primate Identification

To complete the first section, please find one species from each of the following groups. Once you have found the animals in the zoo, fill in the questionnaires on the following pages with the appropriate information. See the exhibit signage for information, and by all means, politely ask a keeper if you see one.

Prosimians: lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers

Zoo exhibits may include slow lorises and red-ruffed lemurs. Recently many lemurs have been moved to the Safari Park, but you can still find a few at the Zoo. If you have a safari park membership, you may complete this section there. If you cannot find lemurs at the zoo, use Primate Info Net http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/

Old World Monkeys: mandrills, macaques, guenons, colobus monkeys, langurs, etc.

A good place to find monkeys is in the “Monkey Trails” exhibit.

New World Monkeys: marmosets, capuchin monkeys, etc.

Apes: (Great Apes) gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, and orangutans (Gorillas, bonobos and orangutans are on exhibit at the zoo. No chimpanzees are exhibited here.

(Lesser Apes) gibbons and siamangs Siamangs are on exhibit with the orangutans in the “Absolutely Apes” exhibit. Gibbons are in a separate enclosure.

Note: You may choose one of the species you used for Section 1 as your primary observation target for Section 2.

POINT DISTRIBUTION – 30 pts total

Section 1: Primate Identification

Identification of four species – 4 pts each section for 16 pts total

Section 2: Primate Observation Worksheet – Scanning

Focal Animal Information – 2 pts

Observations – 4 pts each for 12 pts total

TIPS FOR COMPLETING THE ZOO LAB

MAP -- Use the map wisely to locate animals – the assignment can take a very long time if you are walking all over the zoo without a plan.

KEEPERS -- Use the keepers wisely too! If you see a keeper, be sure to ask them about the animals they care for. They are more than happy to talk to you about relationships, social behavior, history, funny stories, etc.

MISSING DATA -- If you cannot find some pieces of information, such as whether a species has a prehensile tail, nails on fingers, or uses a certain kind of locomotion, use the Primate Info Net database for answers. (Primate Info Net at http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/).

HABITAT DESCRIPTION -- Give a detailed description of the enclosure so I can get a visual picture of what it looks like. Include such details as structures, size, plants, ground materials, open air or enclosed.

Definitions you’ll need

Prehensile tail grasping tail (animal can hang from tail)

Sexual dimorphism differences between males and females of a species, especially in size

Brachiation swinging by arms only

Semi-brachiation using prehensile tail to hold weight of body while brachiating

Vertical Leaping leaping from tree to tree in an upright position

Quadrupedal walking on four limbs, e.g. knuckle walking

Bipedal walking on two legs

Section I: Primate Identification

Key: Y (yes), N (no), DK (“Don’t Know” i.e., couldn’t tell – this answer isn’t suitable for facts you can learn on the internet, only on items you can’t see while observing). Do not leave blanks or they will be counted as missing data.

1. Prosimians

Scientific Name of species (Genus + species) ___________________________________

Common Name of species __________________________________________________

Description of Habitat at Zoo: _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

How many animals are in the enclosure? __________

How many males (do you estimate)? ________ Females? __________ Juveniles? _________

Does this species have: (Check any items that you can’t observe on PrimateInfoNet http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/)

Tails? _____ Prehensile tails? _____ Nails on fingers? _____ Sexual dimorphism? _____

Method of Locomotion:

Brachiation? ________ Semi-brachiation? _________ Quadrupedal? _________

Vertical Clinging and Leaping? ________ Did you see bipedal walking? ________

Where is this species found in the wild?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

What is the status of this species in the wild – endangered? threatened?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Key: Y (yes), N (no), DK (couldn’t tell – this answer isn’t suitable for facts you can learn on the internet, only on items you can’t see while observing). Do not leave blanks.

2. New World Monkeys

Scientific Name of species (Genus + species) ___________________________________

Common Name of species __________________________________________________

Description of Habitat at Zoo: _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

How many animals are in the enclosure? __________

How many males (do you estimate)? ________ Females? __________ Juveniles? _________

Does this species have: (Check any items that you can’t observe on PrimateInfoNet http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/)

Tails? _____ Prehensile tails? _____ Nails on fingers? _____ Sexual dimorphism? _____

Method of Locomotion:

Brachiation? ________ Semi-brachiation? _________ Quadrupedal? _________

Vertical Clinging and Leaping? ________ Did you see bipedal walking? ________

Where is this species found in the wild?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

What is the status of this species in the wild – endangered? threatened?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Key: Y (yes), N (no), DK (couldn’t tell – this answer isn’t suitable for facts you can learn on the internet, only on items you can’t see while observing). Do not leave blanks.

3. Old World Monkeys

Scientific Name of species (Genus + species) ___________________________________

Common Name of species __________________________________________________

Description of Habitat at Zoo: _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

How many animals are in the enclosure? __________

How many males (do you estimate)? ________ Females? __________ Juveniles? _________

Does this species have: (Check any items that you can’t observe on PrimateInfoNet http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/)

Tails? _____ Prehensile tails? _____ Nails on fingers? _____ Sexual dimorphism? _____

Method of Locomotion:

Brachiation? ________ Semi-brachiation? _________ Quadrupedal? _________

Vertical Clinging and Leaping? ________ Did you see bipedal walking? ________

Where is this species found in the wild?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

What is the status of this species in the wild – endangered? threatened?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Key: Y (yes), N (no), DK (couldn’t tell – this answer isn’t suitable for facts you can learn on the internet, only on items you can’t see while observing). Do not leave blanks.

4. Apes

Scientific Name of species (Genus + species) ___________________________________

Common Name of species __________________________________________________

Description of Habitat at Zoo: _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

How many animals are in the enclosure? __________

How many males (do you estimate)? ________ Females? __________ Juveniles? _________

Does this species have: (Check any items that you can’t observe on PrimateInfoNet http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/)

Tails? _____ Prehensile tails? _____ Nails on fingers? _____ Sexual dimorphism? _____

Method of Locomotion:

Brachiation? ________ Semi-brachiation? _________ Quadrupedal? _________

Vertical Clinging and Leaping? ________ Did you see bipedal walking? ________

Where is this species found in the wild?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

What is the status of this species in the wild – endangered? threatened?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Section II: Primate Observation Worksheet

For Section II, choose three primate individuals in the same enclosure to observe for an extended period of time. I suggest you find a large group of animals in a large enclosure for this exercise. You might try the “Absolutely Apes” (orangutans and gibbons), “Monkey Trails,” or “Ituri Forest” enclosures, or the large gorilla or bonobo enclosures. Use your watch/timer to time your observations every three minutes in order to answer each question. Each question should take 9 minutes. This entire section should take you 27 minutes to complete.

How to make an accurate scan:

· Begin by writing down what the three animals are doing at that moment.

· Set the timer for three minutes.

· Once the timer rings, capture a visual picture in your mind of what the animals are doing at that moment.

· Reset your timer, and then write the observation under Scan #1. Repeat for Scan #2 and #3.

· Go to the next question.

Scanning, also called an ethogram, takes a visual “snapshot” at the instant the timer rings. What is the focal animal doing at that moment?

Focal Species Identification

Scientific Name of species ___________________________________

Common Name of species ___________________________________

What are the distinguishing characteristics of your three focal individuals? (Sex, age, features?)

That is, how can you tell them apart?

Focal Animal #1 Focal Animal #2 Focal animal #3

Scanning

Question 1: Are the focal animals interacting with others? If so, describe the interaction. If not, write “None.”

Scan #1 Scan #2 Scan #3

AN

IMAL

#1

AN

IMAL

#2

AN

IMAL

#3

Question 2: Are the focal animals showing any dominant behaviors? If so, describe the behavior.

Scan #1 Scan #2 Scan #3

#1

#2

#3

Question 3: Are the focal animals showing any subordinate or submissive behaviors? If so, describe the behavior.

Scan #1 Scan #2 Scan #3

#1

#2

#3

Personal Reflection

How was your experience at the Zoo today? What did you like/dislike about the experience?

1