1. Primate Evolution

2. What are primates?
Primates are mammals that originally evolved for life in trees.
Over time, they have acquired new characteristics and radiated out from their common ancestor.

3. Life in the Trees
Primates gained adaptations useful for living in trees such as:
5 flexible fingers and toes – can curl around tree branches helping them move through the trees
strong shoulder joint – allows primates to swing from branch to branch
Opposable thumbs and big toes – allows them to grab objects
Well developed brains – complex social interactions, like adopting orphans and war
Binocular vision – both eyes face forward  allows depth perception and a 3-D view of the world, important for movement in the tree tops.