Primate Evolution

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Primate Evolution
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Todays Objectives SOL BIO.8a-d

• TSW investigate and understand how primates have
  changed through time, including
• Examining fossil records
• Recognizing how adaptations lead to natural
  selection

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Primates are mammals that have

• Opposable thumbs
• Large brain
• Good, stereoscopic vision
• Ability to brachiate
• Flexible elbows for hand rotation
• Grasping feet

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Early Primates

• Appeared 60-65 million years ago
• Prosimian
• Small bodies
• Lemurs, Tarsiers
• Anthropoids
• Human-like primates
• Evolved in Africa

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Hominid Evolution

• Hominids developed 5-8 million yrs ago
• Hominids are bipedal
• First hominids were in genus Australopithecus
• Lucy most famous fossil hominid
• More modern hominids were in genus Homo

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More recent humans

• Homo sapiens
• (developed 400,000 years ago)
• Neanderthals
• Europe arrival (100,000 years ago)
• Cro-Magnon
• Europe arrival (40,000 years ago)
• Americas arrival (12,000 years ago)