1. Human Evolution

2. CENOZOIC ERA= 66 m.y.a ; rise of mammals and primates
Primates = group of mammals including monkeys, apes and humans

3. Primates

4. Primate Characteristics
1. strong hands, long fingers, opposable thumb
2. arms move freely at the shoulder joint
3. Binocular vision = eyes positioned on the front of the face (accurately judge distance)
4. intelligent animals with relatively large brains
5. complex social skills with extended parental care of their young

6. Characteristics Unique to Humans
1. walking upright = Bipedalism
2. larger brain
3. use of speech and language

7. Primate Evolution= divided into 2 groups about 40 million years ago
1. Prosimians = small, monkey-like primates with large, forward facing eyes; grasping digits, most are nocturnal, feed on fruits “pre-monkey”
Examples: Lemurs, Lorises, Tarsiers

9. 2. Anthropoids = “human-like” primates ; monkeys, apes, humans; Diurnal = active during the day; complex socially

10. Two separate groups of monkeys evolved:
1. New World Monkeys = 30 Million years ago migrated to American Continents (South America); evolved in isolation,strong, flexible, prehensile tails (grasp branches), arboreal, flat spreading noses

11. 2. Old World Monkeys = 25 Million years ago Europe-Asia-Africa; long prominent noses, no prehensile tail
Apes = larger brains, no tails (gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan)

12. The Hominids
Early Hominids = all the Anthropoids that belong to the human family; ancestors to modern humans

13. The First Hominid? Considerable controversy exists
Originally thought to be Ramapithecus - found in 1932 in India = 8 million year old jaw with teeth

14. None found in Africa (Ramapithecus)
More complete fossils discovered suggest that it is more closely related to the Orangutan

15. Consensus Now...
Proconsul - has many characteristics of Old World Monkeys but lacks a tail
Approximately 5-10 million years old

16. Human vs. Ape Anatomy
1. Human vertebral column is more curved than an apes
2. Human spinal cord exits from the bottom of the skull (Apes exits from the rear)
3. Human pelvis is broader and more bowl shaped
4. Human legs bow in from the hip to the knee, apes are straighter
5. Ape arms disproportionate to their legs

18. What is the controversy?
1. Skeleton fragments ONLY have been found of the earliest human ancestors
2. The “Missing Link” has yet to be discovered (an ape like creature with a larger brain)
3. Religion vs. Science
4. Relative short time frame for Evolution of Man
5. Personal Bias tends to influence discoveries

19. Australopithecus
Australopithecus= “Southern Ape” oldest hominid fossil dates to million years ago
• Australopithecus africanus= m.y.a
• Australopithecus afarensis= “Lucy” 40% complete fossil (female based on pelvis shape) m.y.a.
• A. robustus , A. boisei = 2 m.y.a. ; side branches of human family tree that became extinct
Characteristics common to all Australopithecus: walked upright, apelike characteristics (long arms compared to legs), small brains, found only in Africa

21. Homo habilis= “Handy man” first hominids to use tools and weapons (2
Homo habilis= “Handy man” first hominids to use tools and weapons (2.5 m.y.a)

22. Homo erectus = “Upright man” first to migrate out of Africa & into Asia , built fires, hunters and gatherers

23. Homo sapiens= “Wise man” 500,000 - 300,000 years ago
Neanderthals = brains as large as modern humans, speech, ritual burials, decorated tools, lived until about 34,000 yrs. ago
Cro-Magnon = cave paintings, lived during the Ice Age, complex dwellings, likely evolved into modern humans of today, lived to about 10,000 yrs. ago

25. Human Races
Humans have differentiated as they spread throughout the world
Skin pigmentation changes with proximity to the equator
Isolation has kept races homogeneous
Cultural, behavioral, religious and other isolation mechanisms have and do exist