A

Adaptive Radiation

Occurs when a species diversifies into multiple niches. This diversification is speciation-one species becomes many. Classic example: the prosimians of Madagascar.

Aggression

used for expressing displeasure, demonstrating that another male can't protect a female, social control (mobbing), males managing relations among females

Agonistic Buffer

Example, when a subordinate baboon feels threatened he grabs an infant. He becomes less vulnerable to attack. The infant is an agonistic buffer.

Allele

variant of gene - eg. gene for eye colour; allele for blue, brown, green

Alliance

short-term cooperation - an animal has been doing something with another (eg. grooming) and they stand up together - occurs with adjacently ranked animals

Allometric Relation

If you compare a hundred species of primates you will find relations between body size and some traits. This relation is rarely 1:1. For example, smaller species of primates need proportionally more calories than larger species-metabolism and body size is an allometric not a direct 1:1 relation.

Allomother

A female providing care to another female's infant. Allomothers may be practicing parenting skills, reciprocating or helping mothers, or may attempt to kidnap and harm the infant.

Allopatric Species

Species that live in different geographic areas. For example, common chimpanzees and bonobos are allopatric.

Alloparenting

animals other than mother looking after infants or juveniles - helps both mother and infant - gives others parenting experience.

Altricial

Helpless, highly dependent, immature newborns.

Altruism

A behavior that costs the doer and benefits others.

Altruism, Reciprocal

I'll help you and you help me - interferes with outcome of kin selection.

Allogrooming - see grooming

Analogous Traits

Traits that two species have in common because of independent evolution in similar environment, not shared ancestry.

Anthropoid

an animal within the primate suborder Anthropoidea. Monkeys, apes, and humans are anthropoids.

Anatomy

the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals.

Aye-aye

(daubentonia madagascarensis) - nocturnal - stiff hair like porcupine - long second finger with claw to get insects out of trees - live in nests - noyau.

Arboreal

Living in trees. Referring to animals that are adapted to life in the trees. Arboreal animals spend most of their time scampering around in trees rather than on the ground, in the air, or water. See semi-terrestrial and terrestrial. Gibbons are highly arboreal.