12 6 Primate Evolution KEY CONCEPT Humans appeared

12. 6 Primate Evolution KEY CONCEPT Humans appeared late in Earth’s history.

12. 6 Primate Evolution

12. 6 Primate Evolution Humans share a common ancestor with other primates. • Primates are mammals with flexible hands and feet, forward-looking eyes (3 -D) and enlarged brains and opposable thumbs. Ex. Lemurs, monkeys, apes, humans

12. 6 Primate Evolution • Primates evolved into prosimians and anthropoids. – Prosimians are the oldest living primates. – They are mostly small and nocturnal. Ex. Tarsiers, lemurs, lorises, bushbaby – Most primitive primate, mainly nocturnal and small – Evolved 40 million years ago

12. 6 Primate Evolution – Anthropoids are humanlike primates. – They are subdivided into the New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and hominoids. – Hominoids are divided into hominids, great apes (orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas), and lesser apes (gibbons) – Hominids include living and extinct humans. Walk upright, long lower limbs, opposable thumb, large brain.

12. 6 Primate Evolution • Bipedal means walking on two legs. – foraging – carrying infants and food – using tools • Walking upright has important adaptive advantages.

12. 6 Primate Evolution There are many fossils of extinct hominids. • Most hominids are either the genus Australopithecus or Homo. • The Homo genus first evolved 2. 4 million years ago. • H. neanderthalensis- 200, 000 to 30, 000 years ago in the Neander Valley of Germany

12. 6 Primate Evolution Modern humans arose about 200, 000 years ago. • Homo sapiens fossils date to 200, 000 years ago. Ethiopia • Human evolution is influenced by a tool-based culture. • There is a trend toward increased brain size in hominids. Australopithecus afarensis Homo habilis Homo neanderthalensis Homo sapiens

12. 6 Primate Evolution