Arboreal Primate

Before understanding an arboreal primate, let’s learn about both the Arboreal and Primates individually. Primates are members of the mammal group and are considered the most developed and intelligent group. This group includes humans, monkeys, and apes. Arboreal refers to the group or type of animals that spend the majority of their lives on trees. It includes animals like monkeys, koalas, possums, sloths, etc. There are thousands of species that have adapted to an arboreal lifestyle. They eat, sleep, thrive, reproduce and sustain in the canopy of the trees. Now let us look into the arboreal primate meaning.

What Is Meant By Arboreal Primates? 

Arboreal Primates can be called animals that use their four limbs to navigate or swing through trees. Arboreal primates are majorly inclusive of monkeys and apes. Arboreal primate notes and documents suggest the presence of arboreal habitat as an excuse to let the animals survive. In short, arboreal primates meaning translates into those primates or animals that spend a majority of their life on the trees. The animals which use arboreal locomotion can be monkeys, apes, squirrels, sloths, koalas, gibbons, etc. 

Biomechanics of Arboreal Locomotion

Arboreal habitats are a massive challenge for the animals to adapt and survive. The biomechanics related to arboreal locomotion are as follows.

• Balance 

Since an arboreal primate habitat is mainly on the canopies of trees, balance is of utmost importance as a fall could be fatal. On horizontal branches, tipping becomes an issue. It becomes challenging to balance the thin branches. The vertical units do not pose a threat of tripping, but swinging backwards and forwards becomes essential. 

• Brachiating 

Arboreal primates glide between branches. The branches are not even and continuous, and thus, they must be able to swing between far and uneven branches with ease. They close the gaps between units by swinging, gliding, and leaping across. Animals such as gibbons are excellent in hanging from one branch to another and balancing on these branches, which helps them move and glide across easily. 

• The incline of branches

The incline of branches may also act as difficulty during the arboreal locomotion. If the branches are horizontal, they are easy to navigate through, whereas if the branches are vertical, it poses a challenge. An arboreal primate uses its strength to rise upwards on these vertical branches to swing further. And while swinging and descending, they are required to have control over their body weight and centre of mass to prevent falling. 

• Certain beneficial obstructions 

Sometimes the branches can pose obstructions in the path of the arboreal primate when they are swinging or gliding across. The limbed animals get obstructed; it benefits certain other arboreal animals, such as snakes. Snakes use these additional points as anchor points to move across. 

Anatomical Features

Arboreal primates have developed specific characteristics or features that help them survive as arboreal animals on the trees. Some of the anatomical features are 

• Long limbs and tail

The arboreal primate has elongated/ long limbs. The elongated limbs assist in brachiating, i.e., using the limbs to swing from one branch/ tree to another, reaching for fruits, etc. This type of adaptation is prominent in monkeys. Many arboreal primates and other arboreal species have long tails known as prehensile tails. It serves as an extra limb and helps grasp the branches, etc. It also helps in providing stability to the animals in the tree canopy. 

• Claws 

Arboreal primates have strong claws as these animals require a strong grip when surviving on the trees. They have hairless claws for better grip. They make use of these claws to hold the grip of the branches. Because of these claws, the arboreal primates can climb the trees and survive on them. 

• Body size and mass 

The size of their bodies affects their ability to glide through trees. Arboreal primates are generally of small size. Their small size helps them navigate in crowded habitats and keeps their masses low, increasing their stability. Arboreal primates have a low centre of mass. It prevents them from toppling and provides them stability when gliding through genes. 

• Feet structures

Certain arboreal creatures have specialised foot structures, such as squirrels. They have a flexible ankle joint, allowing them to reverse their leg positions to support during climbing down. It is done by hooking their claws to the tree bark for support. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, arboreal primates thrive on trees and are adapted to such a habitat. Arboreal locomotion helps the arboreal primate habitat and survive on trees easily. Arboreal primate notes suggest that such evolution in the form of claws, tails, long limbs, etc., has taken place to assist them in gliding across the trees and help in grabbing fruits, etc. They have to overcome the problems of balance, obstructions, etc., while moving across the branches.