Evolution of Primates

1. Evolution of Primates 6.3

2. Primates • Primates- All primates have • opposable thumbs • Binocular vision • Flexible shoulders that allow arms to rotate • Humans, monkeys and apes • Divide into 2 groups • prosimians- lemurs and tarsiers • Anthropoids- monkey, apes and humans.

3. Hominids • About 4 Million – 6 Millions years ago hominids showed up. • They ate both meat and plants (omnivore) • They walked upright on 2 legs. • Hominids shared some characteristics with gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees but a larger brain separated them from apes.

4. African Origins • 1920’s fossil skull was found in South Africa. • Small place for brain but human like jaw and teeth. • Australopithecus (oldest hominid) almost complete skeleton found in 1974. Was called Lucy and even though had small brain it did walk upright.

5. Early humans • Homo habilis-(handy many) simple tools were found around them. Estimated to be 1.5 -2 million years old. • Homo erectus- bigger brain 1.6 million years ago. Traveled from Africa to Southeast Asia and possibly Europe. • Homo sapiens- evolved 400,000 years ago. • Cro-Magnon and Neanderthals about 125,000 years ago. • Neanderthals-Short heavy bodies made with thick bone. Small chins and heavy brow bridges. Lived in family groups and used well-made stone tools to hunt. Disappeared 30,000 years ago. • Cro-Magnon humans-Found in Europe, Asia, Australia. 10,000 years ago. 1.6-1.7M tall. Lived in caves. Thought to be the direct ancestor of early humans. • Homo sapiens- “wise human”