2. K-T boundary Primate origin

3. Primate Origins Challenge is to minimize speculation on things that do not fossilize. We live in the Cenozoic Era (past 65 m.y.) Earliest primate fossils date from c. 63 mya; Eocene Epoch Originated from primate-like mammals

4. An Eocene mammal primate Post-orbitalbar

5. Anthropoid Origins Aegyptopithecus Basal to the ape- Old World monkey separation ca. 33 mya

6. A transitional? group Genus Proconsul Many species Mixture of monkey-like and ape-like characteristics 23 mya Africa * * the only extant tailless monkey is the ‘Barbary Ape.’

7. East Africa, Rift Valley system major hominid sites Adjusting branch-points an ongoing process e.g., fossil dated at 6-7 mya

8. Rocky Mountain News - July 11, 2002

9. Sahelanthropus tchadensis

10. Early Hominids Ardipithecus ramidus (5.8 mya) Australopithecus anamensis (4.2 mya) –basal to other australopithecines) –definitive evidence of bipedalism. Derivative australopithecines divided into “gracile” and “robust” species groups

12. Genetic evidence for split

14. Australopithecus afarensis “Lucy” (Hadar, Ethiopia)

15. 3.8 mya Australopithecus afarensis? Why?

16. Australopithecus afarensis (Hadar, Ethiopia). Most complete skull found to date Prognathism

17. Australopithecus afarensis

18. = Diastema Parallel Parallel or slightly convergent Divergent C-shape Dental arcade

20. Australopithecus afarensis to A. africanus

22. “Taung child” Australopithecus africanus 1925 South Africa Age at death?