COMPARATIVE PRIMATES: DENTITION PATTERNS

Primate #1: Sifaka  

The Sifaka lives in dry deciduous forests as well as spiny forests, where it feasts on a herbivoric diet of flowers, fruits, buds, tree bark and more. It is on the endangered list for two reasons: the first is their forest habitats are being destroyed, and second they are hunted in some regions for their meat. With regard to their dentition patterns, the Sifaka is unique. Their pattern is 2 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars and 3 premolars. Their upper incisors are very small and slightly angled. In the mandible, it displays what is referred to as the "toothcomb"-which is 6 teeth in a row together, much like a comb. It also has high, shearing molar crests, which helps the Sifaka to shred the leaves, flowers, and fruit that it eats.

Primate #2: The Spider Monkey

Spider Monkeys are found in tropical forests, from southern Mexico to Brazil. They stick primarily to the upper layers of the rainforest, foraging in the high canopy. Their diet consists mainly of fruits, but they also eat flowers, leaves and occasionally insects. Like the Sifaka, they are also facing significant habitat destruction, but are far more in demand for their meat, mainly due to their large size. They are listed, depending on which species, everywhere from vulnerable to critically endangered. With regard to the dentition, their pattern is 2 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars,  and 3 more premolars.  Spider monkeys use their incisors to eat the fruit they love so much.

Primate #3: The Olive Baboon

The Olive Baboon is found in 25 countries throughout Africa. It can thrive in a number of different habitats, from grasslands, to rainforests and deserts. It is considered an endangered species. One major difference with the baboon vs. the previous 2 animals would be the fact that it is omniverous. It will eat everything from a large variety of plants, to small invertebrates and mammals, to some birds as well. It's dentition pattern is 2 incisors, i canine, 2 premolars and 3 premolars. This slight difference in its' dentition pattern allows the baboon to be the omnivore it is.

Primate #4: The Lar Gibbon

The Lar Gibbon is found almost exclusively in rainforests, but they also inhabit dipterocarp and bamboo forests as well. It is considered frugiverous, which means that fruit makes up over 50% of its' diet. It also eats leaves, insects and some flowers. The Lar gibbon is also on the endangered list. Like the Olive Baboon, the Lar Gibbon's dentition pattern is also 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 premolars. Though its' dentition pattern might indicate that the gibbon has adapted to a diet similar to the baboon, that is not the case. As I mentioned it is primarily a fruit eater.

Primate #5: The Chimpanzee

Chimpanzees, or "Chimps" for short, in the wild live mainly in the grasslands and rainforests of Africa. They are on the endangered list due to hunting, habitat destruction, as well as disease. with regard to their dentition pattern, it is the same as the baboon and gibbon-2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars and 3 premolars. Much like the baboon, the chimp has a variety of dietary choices, from small animals to plants to fruits.

Conclusion: With regard to the dentition patterns of all 5 primates, the conclusion I came to is the baboon and chimpanzee have a pattern that allows them to chew and consume a wider variety of foods. The Sifaka and Spider Monkey's patterns indicate that they are herbivores, consuming a diet of mainly leaves, flowers and some fruit.