Prehistoric Cultures

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Prehistoric Cultures

• Tim Roufs section

Prosimians
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• http//www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1602/p
  cprim.htmlProsimii

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Classification chart (after Linnaeus)
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 96
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Prosimians (pre-monkeys)
Primate taxonomic classification
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 123
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Taxonomy
Common Name
Suborder

• Prosimii

• tree shrew (insectivore)
• lemur
• loris
• tarsier

Anthropoidea
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Taxonomy
Common Name
Suborder

• Prosimii

• tree shrew (insectivore)

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(Pen Tailed) Tree Shrew, Borneo

• REM the tree shrew is an insectivore not a
  primate
• S.E. Asia and Indonesia

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Borneo
Indonesia
Java
Indonesia and Borneo
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 126
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(Pen Tailed) Tree Shrew, Borneo

• REM the tree shrew is an insectivore not a
  primate
• S.E. Asia and Indonesia
• sharp-clawed digits
• old fossil forms show flattened nails
• some are nocturnal
• about the size of a squirrel
• approximation of earliest phase in the evolution
  of primates

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Pen Tailed Tree Shrew, Borneo
p. 126
The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 20
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Taxonomy
Common Name
Suborder

• Prosimii

• tree shrew (insectivore)
• lemur

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Lemur
Primate taxonomic classification
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 123
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Modern Lemurs
Madagascar
Geographical distribution of modern lemurs
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 125
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(Dwarf) Lemur, Madagascar

• size and appearance of a raccoon
• independently moveable ears
• mostly nocturnal
• approximate midpoint between insectivores and
  monkeys
• widespread during Eocene, and is of interest
  because of little change since Eocene
• (36-58 million yrs. B.P.)
• most digits have flat nails rather than claws
• has uneven body temperature

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(Dwarf) Lemur, Madagascar
p. 125
The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 12
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Ring-tailed lemur
p. 125
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 125
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Sifakas in their native habitat in Madagascar
p. 125
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 125
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p. 125
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p. 125
Lemur, Madagascar
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p. 125
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Taxonomy
Common Name
Suborder

• Prosimii

• tree shrew (insectivore)
• lemur
• loris

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Loris
Primate taxonomic classification
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 123
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Loris

• Malaysia, S.E. Asia

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Malaysia
Malaysia
Java
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 126
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Loris

• Malaysia, S.E. Asia
• nocturnal
• large eyes
• feeds largely on insects, birds, and birds eggs
• strong hands
• backbone has more vertebrae than any other primate

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Loris, Malaysia
p. 126
The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 29
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Slow loris
p. 126
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 126
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Taxonomy
Common Name
Suborder

• Prosimii

• tree shrew (insectivore)
• lemur
• loris
• bush baby

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Galago, or bush baby (Lorisiforme)
p. 126
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 126
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Taxonomy
Common Name
Suborder

• tree shrew (insectivore)
• lemur
• loris
• bush baby
• tarsier

• Prosimii

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Tarsier
Primate taxonomic classification
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 123
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Tarsier

• North central Indonesia

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Modern Tarsiers
Borneo
Indonesia
Java
Geographical distribution of modern tarsiers
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 126
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Tarsier

• North central Indonesia
• extreme development of tarsal bones
• smaller than lemur, about the size of a rat
• small nose, large goggly eyes
• at least 25 genera in Eocene times
• (36-58 million yrs. B.P.)
• today there is only one
• arboreal
• nocturnal
• 180 degree head swivel

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Tarsier, Indonesia
p. 126
The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 23
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Tarsier
p. 126
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 126
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Primates

• Earliest primates
• Prosimians
• (pre-monkeys)

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Prosimians
Primate taxonomic classification
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 123
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A Primate Family Tree
The Emergence of Humankind, 4th ed., p. 64
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New World Monkeys
Old World Monkeys
ca. 50 mya
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Next
Monkeys
Understanding Physical Anthropology and
Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 123