Past Exam Questions

Primate Adaptation and Evolution 2000

Anatomical Sciences

1. Discuss the platyrrhine adaptive radiatio
2. Discuss the importance of cranial morphology in primate taxonomy

Zoology 2000

Essays.

1. How do primate brains differ from those of other mammals.
2. What major changes occured in primate morphology in the Cenozoic?

Short answers

1. Define a primate.
2. Describe the differences between homology and analogy.
3. What is the taxomic importance of the tarsiers.
4. List with brief descriptions and examples the main locomotor modes found among primates.
5. What are the main features of the last 5 million years of human evolution.
6. What feeding adaptations are found among the primates? List and give examples.

Human evolution 1999

1. Discuss the current medical problems that are associated with the rapid anatomical and behavioural changes that have occurred in the human clade.
2. Compare and contrast cladistic and phenetic classification schemes, illustrating your answer using examples from the primate order.

Human Evolution 1998

1. Primates as a group use a wide range of locomotor modes. Discuss the evolution of primate locomotor specializations.
2. Discuss primate tool use in a phylogenetic context.

Human Evolution 1997

1. What is a primate? Discuss in relation to the Haplorhine/Strepsirhine division.
2. Discuss the use of teeth in primate phylogenetic reconstrucion.

Comparative Anatomy 2 1996

1. Discuss the uncertain taxonomic status of the tarsiers.
2. Describe the major species of early hominid and discuss their possible phylogenetic relationships.