Hominid Evolution Human Evolution

Objectives Identify the characteristics that all primates share. Describe the major evolutionary groups of primates. Benchmarks SC.912.L15.1* SC.912.L.14.26*

Essential Question Of all the adaptations we learned in class, evaluate which one provides the greatest fitness to primates.

Mind Streaming: How would we distinguish these organisms? (10 min)

How is this organism related to the others?

WHAT IS A PRIMATE? A primate is a mammal that has: 1.Flexible fingers and toes to grip 2.Large thumbs and toes 3.Ability to circulate arms 4.Binocular Vision 5.Well developed cerebellum and cerebrum

WHY IS BINOCULAR VISION IMPORTANT? Binocular Vision: The ability to combine visual images from both eyes, providing depth and a 3-dimensional view of the world.

WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH A MORE COMPLEX BRAIN? Cerebellum: The “thinking part” of the brain is large and complex. CHECK POINT: What can you do with a more complex brain?

WHEN DID PRIMATES EVOLVE? Humans and primates evolved from a common ancestor that lived 65 million years ago. Primate Evolution

WHAT ARE ANTHROPOIDS AND HOMINIDS? The anthropoids, or human like primates, include monkeys, great apes, and humans. Great apes are also called hominoids, and include gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. Recent DNA analyses confirm that chimpanzees are the most closely related to humans.

CHECK POINT 1.Circle the Anthropoid Group 2.Circle the Hominoid Group

How did Hominines Evolve? The skull, neck, spinal column, hip bones, and leg bones of early hominine species changed shape in ways that enabled later species to walk upright. The evolution of bipedal, or two-footed, locomotion freed both hands to use tools. Hominines also evolved much larger brains.

ANSWER: Essential Question Of all the adaptations we learned in class, evaluate which one provides the greatest fitness to primates.