53.8k views
4 votes
Which of the following is a synopamorophy of primates relative to nonprimate mammals?

a. Laterally-facing orbits
b. Claws on the fingers and toes
c. Post-orbital bar
d. Small brains

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The synapomorphy of primates relative to nonprimate mammals is the post-orbital bar, a skeletal feature that provides support around the eye socket.

Step-by-step explanation:

The synapomorphy of primates relative to nonprimate mammals is c. Post-orbital bar. A synapomorphy is a characteristic present in an ancestral species and shared exclusively by its evolutionary descendants. In primates, the presence of a post-orbital bar is a unique skeletal feature that supports and protects the eyes by providing a bony cup around the eye socket. This differs from the traits listed in the other options: a) Laterally-facing orbits are not a characteristic of primates, which tend to have forward-facing eyes; b) Claws on fingers and toes are more common in non-primate mammals, while primates usually have nails; and d) Large brains are characteristic of primates, but not exclusively so, as other non-primate mammals can also have relatively large brains.

User Tharsan Sivakumar
by
7.8k points