The Primates: Web Expeditions

These explorations are intended to expand your understanding of the variety and characteristics of living primate species. Use your favorite Internet search programs to roam around the World Wide Web and discover what other people who have interest in these subjects have said to explain and support their views. Seek out reliable, factual sources. Do not stop at just two or three. It is worth the extra time to thoroughly research these questions and get views on all sides of the issues.

Questions to Explore

1.	Search the Internet for information about new species and varieties of primates discovered during the last 10 years. In what countries do they live? What are their natural habitats? Why were they not found earlier? What is likely to happen in the future to these previously unknown primates?
2.	Look for information on the Internet about primate species in danger of extinction. Where in the world do they live? What is threatening their continued existence? Is the danger to them increasing or decreasing? What is being done about it?
3.	Search the Internet for examples of tool use by non-human primates. What are the tools used for? Which species use them? Don't limit your search only to chimpanzees.
4.	Search the Internet for information about studies of non-human primate intelligence. Describe the studies. Who carried out this research? What were the conclusions drawn by the researchers concerning non-human primate intelligence?

Help Getting Started

If you have not been satisfied with the search programs that you have used in the past, try one of the following. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, none of them can link you to everything available on the Web today because of the rapid growth of sites and the way search engines selectively exclude certain kinds of sites.

Old Standby General Search Programs		Specialized Information Search Programs

Altavista Alltheweb Bing Google Teoma Yahoo		Answers.com MyOptumHealth MedBot MEDLINEplus OminMedicalSearch Wikipedia

If you don't have success searching with these programs, take a look at the Related Internet Links section of this tutorial.

CAUTION: In doing your searches, keep in mind that not everything on the Web is accurate, current, or true. To help discover which sites can be trusted and which ones cannot, ask yourself the following questions:

1.	Who are the authors of the site? What are their credentials? Are they experts?
2.	Is the information current? When was the website created and last updated?
3.	Do the facts presented in the site seem correct?
4.	Is the purpose of the site to objectively inform and explain or to persuade and sell a particular perspective?