The Role of Vision in Prosimian Behavior

Pariente, Georges

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-222150-7.50015-5

Cited by 92 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Their fur is rapidly soaked in rain and, on 10 occasions where sleeping sites were observed, animals Bearder/Ambrose/Harcourt/Honess/Perkin/ Pimley/Pullen/Svoboda were seen to hide beneath dense leaf cover. All well-studied species leave and return to a suitable retreat when ambient light reaches a critical threshold [Pariente, 1979], but activity has also been observed during the daytime in relation to climate (cold, heavy rain), food availability or environmental disturbance (e.g. presence of a potential predator) [Bearder et al, 2001].…”

Section: Sleeping Site Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Species-Typical Patterns of Infant Contact, Sleeping Site Use and Social Cohesion among Nocturnal Primates in Africa

Bearder¹,

Ambrose²,

Harcourt³

et al. 2003

IJFP

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This paper provides a checklist and summary of what is currently known of the variation in infant contact, sleeping site preference and aspects of social cohesion in the nocturnal primates of Africa. Genera and species are compared, based on previously unpublished field observations and a review of the literature. There is a clear pattern of similarity between the species within each genus and distinct differences between genera. Species in the same genus tend to be ecologically equivalent and replace each other allopatrically, whereas species in different genera are more likely to be sympatric, with up to 6 species living together. Maximum sympatry within genera is found in Otolemur and Galagoİdes, where species are ecologically divergent. This may reflect an ancient origin of species within these genera or suggest that further taxonomic revision is required at the generic level. Some data are recorded for the first time for species that have only recently been separated (cryptic species), but some taxa remain very poorly known. It is concluded that field studies are still at an elementary stage and further research with radio tracking is urgently needed in the face of rapidly declining habitats.

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Section: Sleeping Site Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Species-Typical Patterns of Infant Contact, Sleeping Site Use and Social Cohesion among Nocturnal Primates in Africa

Bearder¹,

Ambrose²,

Harcourt³

et al. 2003

IJFP

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“…Nocturnal primates usually seek a safe retreat where they sleep during the day, but they may sometimes wake up and become active [Pariente, 1979]. In the case of G. moholi, for example, animals become active in fi ve different circumstances.…”

Section: Diurnal Activity In Nocturnal Strepsirhinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…obs. ], and those that are usually strictly nocturnal can become active during the day [Pariente, 1979]. In this paper we examine variability in the behaviour of nocturnal strepsirhine primates in relation to varying light conditions throughout the 24-hour cycle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Re-Evaluation of the Role of Vision in the Activity and Communication of Nocturnal Primates

Bearder

Nekaris²,

Curtis³

2006

IJFP

130

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This paper examines the importance of vision in the lives of nocturnal primates in comparison to diurnal and cathemeral species. Vision is the major sense in all primates and there is evidence that the eyesight of nocturnal species is more acute and variable than has previously been recognized. Case studies of the behaviour of a galago and a loris in open woodland habitats in relation to ambient light show that Galago moholi males are more likely to travel between clumps of vegetation along the ground when the moon is up, and during periods of twilight, whereas they retreat to more continuous vegetation and travel less when the moon sets. This is interpreted as a strategy for avoiding predators that hunt on the ground when it is dark. The travel distances of Loris lydekkerianus are not affected by moonlight but this species reduces its choice of food items from more mobile prey to mainly ants when the moon sets, indicating the importance of light when searching for high-energy supplements to its staple diet. Evidence is presented for the first time to indicate key aspects of nocturnal vision that would benefit from further research. It is suggested that the light and dark facial markings of many species convey information about species and individual identity when animals approach each other at night. Differences in the colour of the reflective eye-shine, and behavioural responses displayed when exposed to white torchlight, point to different kinds of nocturnal vision that are suited to each niche, including the possibility of some degree of colour discrimination. The ability of even specialist nocturnal species to see well in broad daylight demonstrates an inherent flexibility that would enable movement into diurnal niches. The major differences in the sensitivity and perceptual anatomy of diurnal lemurs compared to diurnal anthropoids, and the emergence of cathemerality in lemurs, is interpreted as a reflection of evolution from different ancestral stocks in very different ecosystems, and not a recent shift towards diurnality due to human disturbance.

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“…Alouatta further resembles diurnal catarrhines in exhibiting routine trichromatic color vision [Jacobs et al, 1996]. Information regarding the visual system of bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur) is restricted to Pariente's [1976Pariente's [ , 1979 brief description of the diurnal species H. griseus . The visual anatomy of the only bamboo lemur taxa known with certainty to be cathemeral (H. g. alaotrensis and H. simus) [Tan, 2000;Mutschler, 2002] has never been studied.…”

Section: Visual Anatomy Of Cathemeral Primatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eye Morphology in Cathemeral Lemurids and Other Mammals

Kirk¹

2006

IJFP

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The visual systems of cathemeral mammals are subject to selection pressures that are not encountered by strictly diurnal or nocturnal species. In particular, the cathemeral eye and retina must be able to function effectively across a broad range of ambient light intensities. This paper provides a review of the current state of knowledge regarding the visual anatomy of cathemeral primates, and presents an analysis of the influence of cathemerality on eye morphology in the genus Eulemur. Due to the mutual antagonism between most adaptations for increased visual acuity and sensitivity, cathemeral lemurs are expected to resemble other cathemeral mammals in having eye morphologies that are intermediate between those of diurnal and nocturnal close relatives. However, if lemurs only recently adopted cathemeral activity patterns, then cathemeral lemurids would be expected to demonstrate eye morphologies more comparable to those of nocturnal strepsirrhines. Both predictions were tested through a comparative study of relative cornea size in mammals. Intact eyes were collected from 147 specimens of 55 primate species, and relative corneal dimensions were compared to measurements taken from a large sample of non-primate mammals. These data reveal that the five extant species of the cathemeral genus Eulemur have relative cornea sizes intermediate between those of diurnal and nocturnal strepsirrhines. Moreover, all Eulemur species have relative cornea sizes that are comparable to those of cathemeral non-primate mammals and significantly smaller than those of nocturnal mammals. These results suggest that Eulemur species resemble other cathemeral mammals in having eyes that are adapted to function under variable environmental light levels. These results also suggest that cathemerality is a relatively ancient adaptation in Eulemur that was present in the last common ancestor of the genus (ca. 8–12 MYA).

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The Role of Vision in Prosimian Behavior

Cited by 92 publications

References 47 publications

Species-Typical Patterns of Infant Contact, Sleeping Site Use and Social Cohesion among Nocturnal Primates in Africa

Species-Typical Patterns of Infant Contact, Sleeping Site Use and Social Cohesion among Nocturnal Primates in Africa

A Re-Evaluation of the Role of Vision in the Activity and Communication of Nocturnal Primates

Eye Morphology in Cathemeral Lemurids and Other Mammals

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