T A R S I E R
This animal moves at night and it is the only primate
that is a one hundred percent meat eater - insects,
small lizards and birds. It can leap more than fifteen
feet from branch to branch and its eyes are literally
bigger than its stomach. The eyes are so huge they
completely fill their sockets.
Like the owl, the Tarsier compensates for the eye's
immobility by being able to rotate their head almost
180 degrees in either direction. Also, Tarsiers have
created a new tool for personal defense. They
vocalize with one another above dog whistle frequency.
We can't hear their chatter. No sound to follow.
Quiet and tiny. The world's smallest primate.
Slightly larger than your morning mug for coffee.
It's easy to surmise that the first primates may have
been similar to this, living in trees much like squirrels.
Maybe, but true or not the Tarsier of today is far more
sophisticated that its predecessors millions of generations
back in time.
R I N G - T A I L E D L E M U R
A highly social primate native to the large African
island of Madagascar. They travel in "troops" of up
to thirty individuals, with females dominating every
aspect of life. Somewhere along the path of animal
development the female's role began expanding
beyond giving birth to running everything.
We find matriarchal societies all through the
animal world. With the insects, males are a
mere tool for providing genetic diversity. For
the female, the male is simply sex and a meal.
Once the eggs are fertilized the male is quickly
consumed, providing the young valuable protein
for which to grow.
The factors leading to matriarchal society in
larger animals are probably shared across species.
Elephants, lions and ring-tailed lemurs - all matriarchal.
What factors determine gender role?
Here's where your scientist enters the story.
Observation comes first. Grab your notepad and
follow your subject around for the next two years.
Then analyze all your gathered information to
arrive at a possible explanation. Your reasoning
now provides the basis for your hypothesis.
The next step is to create a test that will determine
the validity of your theory. Once completed,
a description of your chosen methods and
your resulting conclusions are published
in a reputable scientific journal for review
by colleagues in your field of study.
They render judgment on your claims.
To what degree did your research
advance the education of humanity?
This is the basis for building scientific knowledge.
P R O B O S C I S M O N K E Y
This monkey from Borneo stands apart from all
other primates because of the male's long,
drooping nose. Females apparently favor
large nosed males. The bigger schnoz
indicates a more robust body with larger
testicles and a presumed higher sperm count.
Sounds like speculation based on observation.
Here is our stated hypothesis.
The large nose provides space for an echo
chamber, amplifying the male's honk! to
a volume that penetrates the surrounding
dense jungle. That is fact.
And a bit of humor beyond the reason.
M A N D R I L L
Best dressed monkey. The most colorful, anyway.
They live in dense tropical rainforests, along with
birds hopping about the jungle canopy, displaying
their own flamboyant and brilliant plumage.
They are all males needing to be seen
despite the thick, stifling vegetation all about.
The jungle can also be filled with plaintive love
calls in the languages of many different species.
It's like Times Square, New Year's Eve...
it's tough getting noticed.
Mandrills lay their colors out thick.
Bright blues and reds do the trick with females.
The more color you have on your face and rump,
the more distinguished you look to the ladies.
It is alleged that your social ranking determines
the intensity of your color. The higher your rank
the brighter your colors. Similarly, you fade in
color as you lose status.
Arriving at doormat you find your colors drained
to beige.
G O R I L L A
Silverback, the dominant male, oversees
the family, but mainly in the role of protector.
The male's chest-beating is meant as a warning.
It is better to ward off your adversary than to risk
a vicious scrap. You can't afford serious injury
with no one around to tend to your wounds.
Koko was an ape raised in captivity. During this
time she built a vocabulary of over two thousand
words using the American Sign Language for the
deaf. With these words she was able to convey
complex emotions, such as grief.
There is a belief among some primate researchers
that gorillas have a consciousness of death
that is similar to what human's experience.
How would you go about testing that hypothesis?
Is a valid test even possible?
C H I M P A N Z E E
The thinker. Life is deeply emotional.
Family dynamics. Social status. Compassion.
Lending a helping hand. Determined enemy.
A war between rival chimpanzee groups involves
ruthless killing until one side or the other is eliminated.
People find them cute as juveniles.
Their charm is mostly gone once they reach
adulthood and become more as nature intended.
They become an animal named Spartacus,
demanding respect.
They aren't stupid. They use rocks for
hammers, twigs to fish for termites, use chewed
plant to salve their wounds, and eat bitter fruit to
ward off nasty parasites.
They also have strong family values.
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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