1. Chapter 6: Primate Evolution Introduction to the Primates Why do anthropologists study primates? –To understand human evolution by: Homology –The same adaptations in close relatives offer clues to design structures in ancestral and contemporary human populations (culture?) Analogy –How do other primates respond to the same and different environmental pressures?

3. Adaptive Radiation What was the niche? Birds and Mammals move into vacated Dino niches Early primates were common In Tropics implies that they were forest/tree dwellers Climate was warm and wet (rainforests)

4. Distribution

5. Derived Traits Opposable Thumbs Nails (no claws) Hind limb dominated locomotion Reduced sense of smell Increase importance of sight (stereoscopic vision) Small litters Large Brain Unspecialized teeth

6. Two types (suborder): Prosimians: VCL, Lemurs (Madagascar), Aya-ayes, Lorises, & Galagos. Anthropoides: Old and New World Monkey and Apes (humans)

7. New World Monkeys Marmosets and tamarins (small bodied) –Twins –Polyandry –Monogamous families with alloparental care Others: –Howlers –Spider –Wooly –Squirrel –Capuchins (tool users) –Night monkeys (owl monkey) –others

8. Old World Monkeys Colobus & Lagurs (harems) Macaques, baboons & vervets (multi-male and multi-female, matrilocal) Apes –Derived traits Lack tails Bigger brains Y-Shaped pattern on lower molar

9. Lesser apes: Gibbons and Siamangs (Asia, true brachiators, Monogamous)

10. Great Apes: –Gorilla (knuckle walking, Africa, polygamous harems)

11. Orangutans (Asia, solitary, home range, rape )

12. Common Chimps (Africa, promiscuous, multi-male and multi-female)

13. Bonobos “Pygmy Chimps” (Africa, very promiscuous, multi-male and multi-female, matriarchal)

14. Chimps and Humans are our closest relatives (98.4% Genes)