Primate Evolution

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Primate Evolution
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What are Primates?

• They are a group of mammals.
• This group includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and
  humans.
• They come in all different shapes and sizes.

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Common Characteristics of Primates

• They all have opposable thumbs.
• Their brain volume is large compared to their
  body size.
• Vision is the dominant sense, binocular vision.
• Arms adapted for a great range of motion.
• Flexible joints
• Feet are able to grasp things.

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How did they evolve?

• Scientist use fossils, comparative anatomical
  features (body similarities), and DNA to propose
  evolution ideas.
• Prosimians evolved first.
• These were small present day primates such as
  lemurs.

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Anthropoids Evolve...

• Anthropoids are humanlike primates.
• They evolved after the prosimians.
• They includes apes and humans.

http//www.mosartdesigns.on.ca/largeart/paintings-
ape.jpg
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Differences of Anthropoids

• They have more complex brains than prosimians.
• Larger and different skeletal features (more
  upright posture)
• Examples are Gibbons, orangutans, chimpanzees,
  and gorillas.

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Old World and New World Monkeys

• These are two classes monkeys are broken up into.
• Old world are generally larger, and may be
  terrestrial.
• New World live in South and Central America.
• They are all Arboreal (living in the trees) and
  have long, muscular prehensile tail.

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Humans tied in

• Scientist theorize that we were the last to
  evolve.
• We have an even larger brain capacity and walk
  upright.

http//www.bio.psu.edu/faculty/hedges/primate.gif
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Hominoid Evolution

• Hominoids or humans began to evolve in Asia and
  Africa as the fossil records shows us.
• Hominoids include apes and humans.
• Scientists think that gibbons were the first to
  evolve, then orangutans, followed by the African
  apes, chimpanzees, and gorillas. One of these
  being or possible ancestor.

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Human Ancestry
http//www.centerfortheperson.org/HUMAN20EVOLUTIO
N.jpg

• Scientist believe that there were two lines
  evolving. One being humans, and the other were
  the African apes- gorillas and chimpanzees.
• Bipedal adaptation of humans sets us apart.
  (walking upright)

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Time line of evolution
Homo sapiens
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
A. boiseri
A. robustus
Australopithecus africanus
Australopithecus afarensis
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Development of culture

• The first known humanoid fossils was
  australopithecine.
• Next came the Neanderthals who lived in Europe,
  Asia, and the middle East 35000-100000 yrs ago.
• Cro-Magnons then became the most recent modern
  human ancestor.

http//cator.hsc.edu/kmd/caveman/shanidar.jpg
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Neanderthals Cro-Magnons

• Neanderthals were the first humanoids to use
  tools for hunting and to use fire.
• Through them a semblance of culture developed.
• Cro-Magnons further developed the use of language
  and art, primarily cave drawings. They also
  advanced tool making.