C 16- Primate Evolution Pp

Content 16-1 Primate Adaptation & Evolution 16-2 Human AncestryHuman Ancestry

Primate Adaptation & Evolution Primates – group of mammals including lemurs, monkeys, apes & humans. Common traits – opposable thumbs, binocular vision, large relative brain volume, flexible arms & joints, grasping feet.

Primate Origins Strepsirrhines earliest fossils MYA Current ex. Lemurs, aye-ayes in Africa & SE Asia Typically small, nocturnal animals w/ big eyes

Primate Origins Haplorhines – tarsiers & anthropoids such as hominoids including apes & humans, Old & New World monkeys More complex brains, more upright posture, different skeletal features.

Primate Origins New World Monkeys MY old fossils Central & S America Arboreal with prehensile tail

Primate Origins Old World Monkeys Arboreal or terrestrial without prehensile tails; includes colobus monkeys, macaques, baboons. Adapted to many varied environments from hot, dry savannas to cold mountain forests. Fossils 20 – 22 MYA

Primate Origins Hominoids- apes (orangutans, gibbons, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas) or humans Lack tails, have long, muscled forelimbs, large brain capacity Oldest anthropoid fossils 37 – 40 MYA

Primate Origins By examining DNA of modern hominoids, scientists have evaluated the probable order in which apes and humans evolved. Chimpanzees share the closest common ancestor w/ humans. Jane Goodall

16.2 Human Ancestry In Africa, 5-8 MYA, a population ancestral to chimpanzees & humans diverged. May have been due to environmental changes. Bipedal hominids had a survival advantage.

Human Ancestry Australopithecus africanus discovered by Raymond Dart 1924 with features of both apes & humans. Braincase & facial structure of ape & position of foramen magnum like humans MYA

Human Ancestry Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson (1974) “Lucy” Australopithecus afarensis found in E Africa 3-4 MYA Although braincase was more like chimp, pelvic bone was more humanlike.

The Emergence of Modern Humans Walking with Cavemen - Part 2 Blood Brothers 3 of 3 > Handy man or Homo habilis MYA Homo habilis skull

Primate Adaptation & Evolution Handy man or Homo habilis MYA Discovered 1964 by Louis & Mary Leakey in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania in Africa Earliest known hominid to use tools Homo habilis

The Emergence of Modern Humans Homo erectus MYA “upright human” Larger brain, more human face, prominent brow ridges, lower jaw w/ no chin Evidence suggests hunters lived in caves Africa, Asia, & Europe

The Emergence of Modern Humans H. sapiens 100,000 – 500,000 YA Neandertals 35,000 – 100,000YA during ice age, had religious views & spoken language Cro Magnon more modern with similar size to humans, toolmakers & artists

Emergence of Modern Humans Humans haven’t changed much in past 200,000 years. Africa, Europe, Asia, North America 10, YA native Americans had establish settlements w/ domesticated animals & farming