Anthropomorphids, or hominoids, belong to the superfamily of narrow-nosed primates. These, in particular, include two families: hominids and gibbons. The body structure of narrow-nosed primates is similar to that of humans. This similarity between humans and great apes is the main one, allowing them to be assigned to the same taxon.
Evolution
For the first time great apes appeared at the end of the Oligocene in the Old World. This was about thirty million years ago. Among the ancestors of these primates, the most famous are primitive gibbon-like individuals - propliopithecus, from the tropics of Egypt. It was from them that dryopithecus, gibbons and pliopithecus further arose. In the Miocene, there was a sharp increase in the number and diversity of species of the then existing great apes. In that era, there was an active resettlement of driopithecus and other hominoids throughout Europe and Asia. Among the Asian individuals were the predecessors of orangutans. In accordance with the data of molecular biology, man and great apes were divided into twotrunk about 8-6 million years ago.
Fossil finds
Rukwapithecus, Kamoyapithecus, Morotopithecus, Limnopithecus, Ugandapithecus and Ramapithecus are considered to be the oldest known humanoids. Some scientists are of the opinion that modern great apes are descendants of parapithecus. But this point of view has insufficient justification due to the scarcity of the remains of the latter. As a relic hominoid, this refers to a mythical creature - Bigfoot.
Description of primates
Anthropoids have a larger body than monkeys. Narrow-nosed primates do not have a tail, ischial calluses (only gibbons have small ones), and cheek pouches. A characteristic feature of hominoids is the way they move. Instead of moving on all limbs along the branches, they move under the branches mainly on their hands. This mode of locomotion is called brachiation. Adaptation to its use provoked some anatomical changes: more flexible and longer arms, a flattened chest in the anterior-posterior direction. All great apes are able to stand up on their hind limbs, while freeing their front ones. All types of hominoids are characterized by well-developed facial expressions, the ability to think and analyze.
The difference between humans and great apes
Narrow-nosed primates have significantly more hair that covers almost the entire body, forexcept for small areas. Despite the similarity of humans and great apes in skeletal structure, human hands are not so strongly developed and have a much shorter length. At the same time, the legs of narrow-nosed primates are less developed, weaker and shorter. Great apes easily move through the trees. Often individuals swing on branches. During walking, as a rule, all limbs are used. Some individuals prefer the "walking on fists" method of movement. In this case, the body weight is transferred to the fingers, which are gathered into a fist. Differences between humans and great apes are also manifested in the level of intelligence. Despite the fact that narrow-nosed individuals are considered one of the most intelligent primates, their mental inclinations are not as developed as in humans. However, almost everyone has the ability to learn.
Habitat
Anthropoids inhabit the rainforests of Asia and Africa. All existing species of primates are characterized by their habitat and lifestyle. Chimpanzees, for example, including pygmy ones, live on the ground and in trees. These representatives of primates are common in African forests of almost all types and in open savannahs. However, some species (bonobos, for example) are found only in the humid tropics of the Congo Basin. Subspecies of the gorilla: eastern and western lowland - are more common in humid African forests, and representatives of the mountain species prefer a forest with a temperate climate. These primates rarely climb trees due to their massiveness andspend most of their time on the ground. Gorillas live in groups, with the number of members constantly changing. Orangutans, on the other hand, are usually solitary. They inhabit swampy and humid forests, climb trees perfectly, move from branch to branch somewhat slowly, but quite dexterously. Their arms are very long, reaching down to their ankles.
Speech
Since ancient times, people have sought to establish contact with animals. Many scientists have de alt with the teaching of great apes speech. However, the work did not give the expected results. Primates can only make single sounds that bear little resemblance to words, and the vocabulary as a whole is very limited, especially in comparison with talking parrots. The fact is that narrow-nosed primates lack certain sound-forming elements in the organs corresponding to human ones in the oral cavity. This explains the inability of individuals to develop the skills of pronunciation of modulated sounds. The expression of their emotions is carried out by monkeys in different ways. So, for example, a call to pay attention to them - with the sound "uh", passionate desire is manifested by puffing, a threat or fear - by a piercing, sharp cry. One individual recognizes the mood of another, looks at the expression of emotions, adopting certain manifestations. To transmit any information, facial expressions, gestures, posture act as the main mechanisms. With this in mind, the researchers tried to start talking to the monkeys using sign language, which is used by deaf and dumb people. YoungMonkeys learn signs fairly quickly. After a fairly short period, people got the opportunity to talk with animals.
Perception of beauty
Researchers noted with pleasure that monkeys are very fond of drawing. In this case, the primates will act quite carefully. If you give a monkey paper, a brush and paints, then in the process of depicting something, he will try not to go beyond the edge of the sheet. In addition, animals quite skillfully divide the paper plane into several parts. Many scientists consider the paintings of primates to be strikingly dynamic, rhythmic, full of harmony both in color and in form. More than once it was possible to show the work of animals at art exhibitions. Researchers of primate behavior note that monkeys have an aesthetic sense, although it manifests itself in a rudimentary form. For example, while watching animals living in the wild, they saw how individuals sat at the edge of the forest during sunset and watched the sunset in fascination.
