The order Primates contains over 700 species of animals. Although there is variation in their sizes, colors, shapes, intelligence, and habits, there are features common to all primates. This order includes the families Lorisidae (Pottos and Angwantibo), Galagidae (Galagos), Cercopithecidae (Tantalus, Patas, Colobus monkeys, Drill, and Baboon), and Pongidae (Gorilla and Chimpanzee).
Members of the order Proboscidea are elephants, probably the best-known African mammals. Their vast size and bulk, sometimes reaching up to 11 feet in height and 7 tonnes in weight, are almost unbelievable. A large herd of elephants is a magnificent sight not easily forgotten.
There are two living species: the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus). These are the only survivors of an order that was extremely successful from about 26 million to 1 million years ago.
Order Primates: Highly Developed Mammals
Primates are among the most highly developed mammals, characterized by relatively large, complex brains, binocular vision, and nails instead of claws on most digits. Their opposable first digit allows them to grasp objects with their hands or feet.
These adaptable, intelligent mammals are social, living in stable, cohesive groups and using various vocal sounds, expressions, and movements to communicate. Primates are mainly arboreal, inhabiting rainforests. In Nigeria, the following four families of primates are found:
- Lorisidae (Prosimians)
- Galagidae (Prosimians)
- Cercopithecidae (True monkeys)
- Pongidae (e.g., Gorilla and Chimpanzee)
Key Identification Features of Primates in Nigeria
- 1. Pongidae (Gorilla and Chimpanzee): Size very large, head-body (HB) length up to 220cm, tail absent, no ischial callosities on buttocks, arms longer than legs.
- 2. Cercopithecidae (True Monkeys): Size medium to small, HB length less than 100cm, ischial callosities may or may not be present, legs as long or longer than arms, eyes relatively small.
- 3. Lorisidae (Prosimians): Size small, HB length usually 10-39cm, no ischial callosities, eyes relatively large, limbs approximately equal in length, tail much shorter than HB and barely visible, small ears mostly hidden by fur.
- 4. Galagidae (Prosimians): Hindlimbs longer than forelimbs, tail longer than HB, large ears projecting outward from the side of the head.
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Common Primates in Nigeria
1. Anubis Baboon (Papio anubis)
A large, heavily built monkey with a coarse and dense olive-brown pelage often speckled due to alternating dark and light bands of hairs. Adult males have a mane formed by elongated hair on the neck, shoulders, and chest.
This species is common in wooded savannahs and rocky areas, feeding on a variety of fruits, bulbs, roots, shoots, insects, and small vertebrates. Baboons live in troops, typically composed of females and their young, adolescents of both sexes, and adult males. They have a well-developed social hierarchy based on dominance.
2. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
A large, robust ape with pale face, dark mask around the eyes, and large pale ears. Chimpanzees are both arboreal and terrestrial, walking on all fours but occasionally on their hind limbs.
They are highly intelligent and social, living in groups of 2-25 individuals. Chimpanzees feed mainly on fruits, nuts, leaves, and insects, sometimes using sticks to obtain food. A single young is born after a gestation period of 236 days, and maturity is reached in 7-9 years.
3. Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
The largest of all primates, Gorillas are robust animals with a large head, black face, and a conical crown due to the development of bony occipital and nuchal crests. They live mainly in lowland and montane rainforests, feeding on fruits, stems, leaves, and tree bark. Gorilla groups consist of 5-30 individuals, usually led by a dominant male. Gestation lasts 255 days, and maturity is reached at about 8 years.
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Order Proboscidea: The Elephants
Elephants have unique and specialized characteristics. Their trunk, a highly sensitive extension of the nose and upper lip, is used for breathing, gathering food, squirting water, and communication through touch and posture. Elephants have two species: the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus), with significant differences between their tusks, bristles, and ears. In Nigeria, the only species found is the African elephant.
1. Tusks and Dentition
Elephant tusks, which are elongated upper incisors, vary in size depending on sex, age, and locality. The large cheek teeth are adapted to grind enormous amounts of food, with each elephant possessing six sets of cheek teeth throughout its life. As one pair of teeth wears down, it is replaced by the next set.
2. Elephants in the Ecosystem
Elephants consume vast amounts of food, up to 270 kg of vegetation daily. Their feeding habits, including breaking branches and stripping bark from trees, can significantly alter habitats when populations are large. Despite their destructive tendencies, elephants play a crucial role in seed dispersal, as seeds pass unharmed through their digestive systems.
3. Social Structure and Reproduction
Elephants live in herds, usually composed of females and their young or bachelor males. Males leave the female herds at puberty to join male groups, reuniting with females only for mating. A single calf is born after a gestation period of 22 months, suckling for about two years. Females produce one calf every 4-10 years, with sexual maturity reached at 14-20 years.
In conclusion, the Order Primates is the most highly developed group of mammals, with distinctive physical and behavioral characteristics. The Order Proboscidea, represented by elephants, is also unique, known for their specialized features and crucial ecological roles. Both orders play vital roles in their respective ecosystems.
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