Locomotor Patterns.

Lemurs are known to live in areas with heavy rain forests.  Being arboreal primates they thrive in this type of habitat.  At one point the lived throughout the world.  However now they mainly live in Madagascar amd the islands that surround it off the coast of east Africa.  Athough most live in rain forests some types of lemurs have managed to survive in drier climates.  Lemurs are know as quadrupedal meaning they use their four limbs to navigate through the rain forest.  They are also excellent climbers and leapers.  It is clear that it's locomotor skills are a product of its environment.  It is a perfect environment  because of its ability to find food and travel across the arbors with the greatest of ease. 

Spider Monkeys are also arboreal primates.  Their habitat is heavy rain forests and they rarely touch the floor surface.  They are mostly found in the region from Mexico to the northern part of South America.  They are quadrupedal, climb, swing through the trees.  Although they use their four limbs for navigating through the arbors they also use their tail as a fifth limb to help in their movement.  Since these primates do se well with movement in the arbors they thrive in this environment.  Since they hardly touch the ground spider monkey's have found a way to live on the tops of trees in a less competitive environment.  Their tales adapting to climbing shows that the spider monkey is adapting to its environment. 

Baboons however are not arboreal primates, instead they are known as terrestrial.   These animals are found mostly in east Africa.  Their habitats are areas such as savannas and woodlands.  They thrive in areas with a good supply of food and water.  Baboons are normally found in areas with cliffs and trees.  They use cliffs and trees for sleeping as way to protect themselves from their enemies.  These primates are quadrupedal.  However they do not walk on their heels but on the their digits(fingers).  Their heels hardly touch the ground.  The ability to live on hunt and gather on the surface ground and use its ability to climb to protect itself have allowed it to survive in their environment. 

Gibbons are generally found in southeast Asia.  These are areas with heavy tropical rain forests. They are very small and lightweight which allow them to swing form branch to branch with the greatest of ease.  These primates are also quadrupedal.   Because of their size they have the ability ot walk and leap to most branches.  This great ability to travel from tree to tree has helped the Gibbons adapt to its environment by being able to search out food that would be difficult for other primates to reach.

Chimpanzee's are mostly found in wet savannas, rain forest and can be found throughout Africa.  However, these primates are able to adapt to different types of environments.  Their locomotor skills include quadrupedal knuckle walking and some bipedalism.  Since they are able to do both they are considered to be terrestrial and arboreal.  Although most of their time is spent on the surface ground they do generally sleep in the trees.  Their long arms have helped them become great tree climbers.  Their ability to travel well on ground and trees gives them a great advantage in finding sources of food and protecting it from harm.


I believe the locomotor skills of the primates have helped them survive and thrive in their habitats.  The ability to climb trees and in some primates the ability to walk have helped them take full advantage of their environment.  It has helped them find sources of food and and water amongst the trees and on surface ground.  It has also helped protect them from harm by being able to use these traits.   The ability to move more effectively, surely does work to their advantage.