Question

Hominoids are a specific subdivision of Catarrhini.

• What are Hominoids? What makes them different from other Catarrhines?

• What is meant by Suspensory locomotion? How does this differ from the way that monkeys move around?

• Explain the morphological changes that accommodate Hominoid suspensory locomotion.

Answer 1

Hominooids: Hominoidea (Apes), a group of primates consisting 22 species. Apes, also known as hominoids, including orangutans, gibbons and chimpanzees. Hominoids are grouped under the superfamily "hominoidea".

Catarrhinies differ from hominoids: Catarrhinies are the sister community of new monkeys around the world. They have sideways ears and flat nose. The fingers and toenails are thin and flatter and both hands and feet are capable of grasping. The old term monkey can be used instead to reffer to catarrhines. In clearer distinction we can say that homoniods are more of a human appearence like human and humans similar to catarrhine monkey.

Suspensory locomotion: This is a type of locomotion which involves hanging the body beneath or above the branches of the tree. This allow both land and predators to be avoided and to travel longer distances. Monkeys uses this suspensory locomotion. They use brachiation in which the monkey leap from tree to tree using their arms only.

Morphological modification leading to hominoids susmensory locomotion: Hominoids have a decreases in the mediolateral breath of the scapula as well as a change in the glenoid position which helps to suspend the branches of the tree. Scapular variations in early hominoids essentially show their suspension locomotion capability.