12.6 Primate Evolution
KEY CONCEPT
Humans appeared late in Earth’s history.
12.6 Primate Evolution
I. Humans share a common ancestor with other primates.
A. Primate Characteristics
1. Moveable fingers and toes
2. Flat nails
3. Prehensile (grasping) hands
4. Color vision
5. Front facing eyes
6. Enlarged brains
12.6 Primate Evolution
B. Primates evolved into prosimians and anthropoids.
1. Prosimians are the oldest living primates
a. They are mostly small and nocturnal
b. Examples: lemurs, lorises, tarsiers
12.6 Primate Evolution
Prosimian = Lemurs
12.6 Primate Evolution
Prosimian = Lorises
12.6 Primate Evolution
Prosimian = Tarsiers
12.6 Primate Evolution
2. Anthropoids are humanlike primates.
12.6 Primate Evolution
a. Characteristics of Anthropoids
– Well developed
collar bone
– Rotating shoulder
– Dental formula
(molars, premolars,
canine, incisors)
– Opposable thumbs
12.6 Primate Evolution
C. Anthropoids are subdivided into the New World
monkeys, Old World monkeys and hominoids
1. New World Monkeys: Marmosets, Howlers,
Spider Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys
a. All live in trees
b. Many have prehensile tails
12.6 Primate Evolution
New World = Marmosets
12.6 Primate Evolution
New World = Howlers
12.6 Primate Evolution
New World = Spider
12.6 Primate Evolution
New World = Squirrel Monkey
12.6 Primate Evolution
2. Old World Monkeys: Macaque, Colobus, Baboon
a. Most travel and forage (at least part of the time) on the
ground
b. Have larger brains that New World Monkeys
12.6 Primate Evolution
Old World = Macaque
12.6 Primate Evolution
Old World = Colobus
12.6 Primate Evolution
Old World = Baboons
12.6 Primate Evolution
3. Hominoids – Orangutans, Bonobos, Chimps
D. Hominoids are divided into hominids, great apes and
lesser apes
1. Hominids include living and extinct humans
a. Walk upright
b. Have long lower limbs
c. Opposable thumbs
d. Relatively large brains
2. Great apes include gorillas, chimps and orangutans
3. Lesser apes include gibbons
12.6 Primate Evolution
Great Apes = gorillas
12.6 Primate Evolution
Hominoids/Great Apes = Orangutans
12.6 Primate Evolution
Hominoids = Bonobos
12.6 Primate Evolution
Hominoids/Great Apes = Chimps
12.6 Primate Evolution
Hominoid/Lesser Apes = Gibbons
12.6 Primate Evolution
E. Walking Upright (a characteristic of humans)
1. Bipedal means walking on two legs which allows…
a. Foraging
b. carrying infants and food
c. using tools
2. Requires:
a. Cup shaped pelvis
b. S shaped spine
c. Toes aligned
d. Larger brain
12.6 Primate Evolution
12.6 Primate Evolution
II. There are many fossils of extinct humans
1. Most hominids are classified either as Australopithecus or
Homo
2. Australopithecines were a successful genus
a. Australopithecinus afarensis
i. Lived 3 – 3.9 million years ago
ii. Cranial Capacity is 1/3 of modern humans
iii. Humanlike limbs
Australopithecus
afarensis
Homo habilis
Homo
neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
12.6 Primate Evolution
12.6 Primate Evolution
3. The Homo genus first evolved 2.4 million years ago
a. Homo habilis
i. Lived 2.5 – 1.6 mya
ii. “Handy man” – used tools
iii. Ate meat
iv. Speech
Australopithecus
afarensis
Homo habilis
Homo
neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
12.6 Primate Evolution
12.6 Primate Evolution
b. Homo Neanderthalensis
i. “Neanderthals”
ii. Larger cranial capacity than humans
iii. Thick brow ridges and protruding teeth
iv. Tools
v. Wore Clothing
vi. Buried their dead
vii. Replaced by modern humans
Australopithecus
afarensis
Homo habilis
Homo
neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
12.6 Primate Evolution
12.6 Primate Evolution
III. Modern humans arose about 200,000 years ago
1. Homo sapiens fossils date to 200,000 years ago
a. Human evolution is influenced by a tool-based
culture
b. There is a trend toward increased brain size in
hominids
c. Characteristics:
i. High forehead
ii. No brow ridge
Australopithecus
afarensis
Homo habilis
Homo
neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
12.6 Primate Evolution