Locomotion in Primates

                                              Locomotion in Primates

Lemurs are found in an island off the East Coast of Africa called Madagascar.  Madagascar is made up of savanna and rain forest. The lemurs are found in the tropical rainforest.  Lemurs have a form of quadrupedal movement in which they use all four or their limbs to support their body. They use vertical clinging and leaping for their types of movement. Lemurs use their limbs to leap and cling to better adapt to the trees in the rainforest.

Spider Monkeys are found in central and south America in the tropical rainforest’s. Spider monkeys leap and swing their arms. They are known as semibrachiators. They live in the upper rainforest in the canopy. They have adapted to their environment by using their arms to swing to the higher branches of the rain forest.

Baboons are found in Africa, India, Japan, and China. They are found in many different types of environments. They are extremely adaptable to their habitat. Baboons are quadrupedal primates. They use all four of their limbs to support their body. Because baboons are found in multiple environments they have adapted to life on the ground.

Gibbons are found in Asia. They live in the tropical rainforest and monsoon forest. They use their limbs for hanging and are considered more dedicated to brachiating than other primates. The gibbon’s arms and fingers are long which help them swing and hang in the many trees found in the rain and monsoon forest.

Chimpanzees are found in equatorial Africa and in the west of lake Tanganyika. They are quadaredal primates that use their limbs to support their weight evenly. When chimpanzees are younger they may branchiate more. Using their arms to swing from branches.  Chimpanzee have adapted to life on the ground. They are able to walk on the ground while caring objects and food. They use their knuckles to help support their balance and weight.