Quizzes
Topic Content:
- Man as a Mammal
- Man as a Primate
Man as a Mammal:
Man belongs to the class simply referred to as mammals.
The general characteristics of mammals are:
1. Body is covered by hair or fur.
2. Giving birth to young ones alive.
3. Breastfeeding young ones.
4. Constant body temperature.
5. Heterodont dentition.
6. Breathing through the lungs.
Other examples of mammals are cats, dogs, rats, sheep, goats, monkeys, etc.
Man as a Primate:
Traditionally, mammals were divided into groups based on their characteristics, among which are primates which include man. These mammals are characterized by detailed development of the hands and feet, a shortened snout, and a large brain.
Primates have the following special characteristics:
1. They have grasping hands.
2. They can stand in an upright position.
3. Eyes are positioned in front of the head and not at the sides.
4. They have nails on their fingers and toes instead of claws.
5. They can use their thumb and forefingers to pick up things.
From the foregoing, it should be noted that all primates are mammals but not all mammals are primates.
Examples of primates are Baboons, Man, Orangutans, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, etc.
