1. Primate Evolution

2. Todays Objectives: SOL BIO.8a-d TSW investigate and understand how primates have changed through time, including: –Examining fossil records –Recognizing how adaptations lead to natural selection

3. Primates are mammals that have: Opposable thumbs Large brain Good, stereoscopic vision Ability to brachiate Flexible elbows for hand rotation Grasping feet

4. Early Primates Appeared 60-65 million years ago Prosimian –Small bodies –Lemurs, Tarsiers Anthropoids –Human-like primates –Evolved in Africa

5. Hominid Evolution Hominids developed 5-8 million yrs ago Hominids are bipedal First hominids were in genus Australopithecus –Lucy most famous fossil hominid More modern hominids were in genus Homo

6. More recent humans Homo sapiens (developed 400,000 years ago) –Neanderthals Europe arrival (100,000 years ago) –Cro-Magnon Europe arrival (40,000 years ago) Americas arrival (12,000 years ago)