Primates

Primates

Introduction

Primates are most interesting to study because human beings , as homo sapiens , belong to such group of mammals . While human beings are unquestionably the most interesting and superior in the animal kingdom other primates exhibit such marked similarities with them . Thus , it is both educational and intriguing to explore the similarities and differences that prevail between human beings and two other members of the primates - the gorilla and the orangutan

This research brings home a reminder of how we came to be and of what we are here

in this world for from a scientific viewpoint . For all the advances and progress that human beings have achieved through time , the purpose and the grand design of all things remain to be irrefutable aspects that somehow stay true to the basic nature of human beings Everything in the animal and plant kingdoms does their role in consistency with the cycle of life on earth of which human beings are a major part . Science , indeed , is an interesting field of study

Literature Review

Gorillas and Orangutans are both endangered primates , and both have traits and characteristics that make them somehow similar to human beings . Gorillas are the largest of the living primates (Wikipedia Internet , while orangutans are about two-thirds (2 /3 ) the size of the gorilla (Primate Info Net , Internet . The following are the taxonomy details regarding gorillas and orangutans

Particulars Gorillas (source : Primate Info Net Orangutans (source : Enchanted Learning

Primates Primates

Family Hominidae Pongidae

Genus Gorilla Pongo

Species Beringei , gorilla Pygmaeus

Subspecies G .b . beringei , G .b . graueri , G .g . gorilla

.p . pygmaeus ,

.p abelii

Life span 30 to 40 years if wild , 50 years if captive 30-45 years if wild , 50 years if captive

Gestation 8 .5 months , or 256 days 8 .5 to 9 months

Height 1700 mm for males , 1500 mm for females 1000-1400 mm for males , 800-1100 mm for females

Weight 181 kg for males , 72 to 98 kg for females 90 kg for males , 50 kg for females

The gorillas spend most of their time on the ground . The main locomotion pattern of gorillas is quadrupedal knucke-walking , although they do climb and spend limited amounts of time standing bipedally Because of their sheer size , adult gorillas must climb near the main trucks of a tree or on large branches while juveniles and adolescents are more agile (Primate Info Net , Internet ) Gorillas inhabit the tropical and subtropical forests of Africa . The name gorilla ' was derived from the Greek word Gorillai ' which means a tribe of hairy women (Wikipedia , Internet

Meanwhile , orangutans are large apes that live in the tropical rainforests of southeast Asia (on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra These apes mostly live in trees (they are arboreal ) and swing from branch to branch using their arms ' The word orangutan ' is a Malay word that means man of the forest (Enchanted Learning Internet

Methodology

The preparatory phase of the project involved doing research and reading available materials regarding primates , zeroing...