Outline for Primate Evolution

I. Types of Primates


A. New World monkey


1. Examples: Spider Monkeys, Golden Lion Tamarins, and Squirrel Monkeys.


2. Diet usually consists of fruit, insects, and other small animals


3. Very Diverse in size and ecology


4. Use’s tail as a fifth limb to help climb


5. First modern anthropoids to evolve


6. Successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean


1. Either by rafting on floating Islands or by crossing bridges when sea level was low


B. Old World Monkeys


1. Examples: Mandrills, Proboscis Monkeys, Grey Langurs and Baboons


2. Natives of Africa and Asia


3. They mostly live in Trees


4. They are mostly commonly known as cold weather monkeys.


C. Apes


1. There are 5 genera of apes: Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Gibbons, Orangutans, and Siamangs.


2. They are most commonly recognized as Primates without tails.


3. They also have very large brains.


4.   Their diet consists of vegetables and other plant life.


        1. Chimps occasionally have been observed killing other                               animals for food.


5.   Apes are subject to the same disease as humans.


6. They can also use tools and sign language.


D. Prosimians


1. Examples: Lemurs and Mouse Lemurs


2. Small tree dwelling primates


3. They are the size of a mouse to a large house cat.


4. Due to lack of facial Muscles they cannot make facial changes that other primates use to communicate.


II. Human Ancestry


A. Bipedal


1. Since apes were pushed out of the trees by lack of food, they eventually had to adapt to walking around on two legs.


2. Since their arms were free from walking on two legs, they could now use them to use tools.


B. Hominids


1. A humanlike, bipedal Primate.


2. Possessed both ape and human characteristics....