The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma/Mammalia/Class Mammalia/Subclass Eutheria/Order Primates/Suborder Anthropoidea

by William Thomas Blanford

Suborder ANTHROPOIDEA.

A.

Premolars 2/2, molars 3/3; thumb, if present, opposable; internasal septum narrow. (Catarrhini.)

I.

No tail ; stature erect ; great toe or hallux parallel with other toes, not opposable; arm shorter than leg; no interval be- tween upper canines and incisors; canines not longer than incisors ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Hominidæ.

II.

No tail; stature sometimes erect, sometimes not; hallux opposable; arm longer than leg; an interval between upper canines and incisors; canines in adults longer than incisors ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Simiidæ.

III.

A tail almost always present; stature never erect ; hallux opposable; arm not longer than leg; an interval between upper canines and incisors; canines in adults longer than incisors ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Cercopithecidæ.

B.

Premolars 3/3, molars 2/2 or 3/3; thumb not opposable; hallux always opposable; internasal septum broad. (Platyrrhini, all American.)

IV.

M. 3/3; tail in many cases prehensile ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Cebidæ.

V.

M. 2/2; tail not prehensile ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Hapalidæ.

The family Hominidæ comprises but one genus, and, according to the views usually accepted, but one species, Man. Naturalists have differed as to the physical relations of Man to other animals, but most modern writers have returned to the views of Linnæus, and class Man with the Monkeys, but in a distinct family^[1]. No attempt will be made in the present work to enter into the anthropology of India; the subject requires a volume to itself.

The Cebidæ and Hapalidæ are confined to America. Representatives of the Simiidæ and Cercopithecidæ are found within the Indian area.

1. On this subject the following works maybe consulted:—Darwin, 'The Descent of Man;' Huxley, 'Man's Place in Nature;' Mivart, under the article "Ape," and Flower, under "Mammalia," in the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' 9th edit.