Outline for Primate Evolution :: science

Outline for Primate EvolutionI. Types of Primates A. New World monkey 1. Examples roamer Monkeys, Golden Lion Tamarins, and Squirrel Monkeys. 2. Diet usually consists of fruit, insects, and other small animals 3. Very Diverse in size and ecology 4. Uses tail as a fifth limb to help climb 5. First modern anthropoids to evolve 6. Successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean 1. Either by rafting on floating Islands or by crossing bridges when sea level was low B. Old World Monkeys 1. Examples Mandrills, Proboscis Monkeys, Grey Langurs and Baboons 2. Natives of Africa and Asia 3. They mostly live in Trees 4. They are mostly commonly k instantaneouslyn as cold weather monkeys. C. Apes 1. There are 5 genera of apes Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Gibbons, Orangutans, and Siamangs. 2. They are most commonly recognized as Primates without tails. 3. They also have very large brains. 4. Their diet consists of vegetables and other plant life. 1. Chimps occasionally have been observed killing other animals f or food. 5. Apes are equal to(p) to the same disease as humans. 6. They can also use tools and sign language. D. Prosimians 1. Examples Lemurs and Mouse Lemurs 2. Small tree dwelling primates 3. They are the size of a mouse to a large house cat. 4. Due to lack of facial Muscles they cannot make facial changes that other primates use to communicate. II. Human Ancestry A. bipedal 1. Since apes were pushed out of the trees by lack of food, they eventually had to adapt to walking around on two legs. 2. Since their arms were free from walking on two legs, they could now use them to use tools. B. Hominids 1. A humanlike, bipedal Primate. 2. Possessed both ape and human characteristics. 3. Raymond Dart discovered a fossil skull that had an apelike braincase and face, just was unlike any primate he had ever seen. C. Australopithecine 1. Early Hominid that lived in Africa. 2. Most information gathered about the Australopithecine was freshman discovered by Donald Johnson. 1. Lucy Skeleton a. First ever Australopithecine skeleton b. Lucy was classified as Australopithecus afarenis. c. Named after a song by the British pop group The Beetles. D. Australopithecus afarenis 1. Earliest known hominid species. 2. Fossils of its pelvis, legs, and feet indicate that it was bipedal, like humans. 3. Its Braincase suggested an apelike brain. 1. Along with its shoulders and forelimbs.