Primate Anatomy synthesizes the taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, and genomics of extant primates, including humans. It takes a holistic approach to describing primate skeletal, muscular, and organ structure and function. This book provides the tools to understand the fundamentals and state of the science of primatology.
Now in its fourth edition, this work introduces its audience to the history and objectives of the field of primatology. It enumerates and profiles extant primates before delving into detailed descriptions of primate skulls, brains, teeth, skeletons, musculature, organs, blood groups, reproduction, and development. The book highlights recent advances in primate genomics, including new genera and species assignments, and concludes with a glance at the future of the field.
Written by longtime expert Friderun Ankel-Simons, the fourth edition of Primate Anatomy effectively introduces complex biological concepts in a manner accessible to all readers. This book serves as an excellent reference for technical and non-technical audiences, including primatologists, anatomists, palaeontologists, anthropologists, conservationists, and naturalists.
- Offers holistic coverage of the anatomy and physiology of extant primates
- Highlights taxonomic developments since the publication of the third edition of Primate Anatomy, including new genera and species assignments
- Introduces primate genomics and gender issues among primates
- Provides instructive and comprehensive review tables Includes many unique, novel, and easily understandable illustrations
1. Gender issues among primates
2. Taxonomy
3. A history and objectives of primatology
4. Survey of living primates
5. Skull
6. Brain
7. Teeth
8. Postcranial skeleton
9. Sense organs and viscera
10. Placentation and early primate development
11. Reproductive organs, reproduction and growth
12. Chromosomes and blood groups
13. Muscular primatology
14. Primate genomics
15. Conclusions with a glance of the future
Dr Friderun Ankel-Simons is a Retired Adjunct Associate Professor in Duke University's Department of Evolutionary Anthropology. She has been a distinguished professor of Human and Primate Biology, Anatomy, Osteology, Histology, Genetics, Behavior, and Anthropology at the Universities of Giessen, Copenhagen, Zurich, Kiel, Brown, Yale, North Carolina, and Duke. She obtained her Doctorate of Natural Sciences (DSc) from the University of Giessen, Germany. Her research interests include primate anatomy, morphology, locomotion, genetics and genomics, behaviour, and conservation. She has written three prior editions of Primate Anatomy.
" [...] thanks to the concise and very informative style and numerous excellent illustrations, (this book) will not only be of great benefit to all naturalists, but equally so to the interested layperson."
– Neue Zuricher Zeitmug (Zurich, Switzerland)
"The most outstanding features of the book are the sensible as well as critical documentation in combination with numerous excellent original figures. This small book, which is of high quality from the anatomical point of view deserves to be complimented by the paleontological viewpoint in a new editon."
– Einführung in die Primatenkunde, L Anthropologie
" [...] highly recommended to students of primatology and advanced physical anthropology as a tool for learning primate biology, since the writing is clear and simple and utilizes many key words over and over."
– American Anthropologist