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Primates are an order of mammals which includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans Where do we separate?. Primates. COMMON PRIMATE TRAITS. 5 DIGITS ON BOTH HANDS & FEET NAILS INSTEAD OF CLAWS FLEXIBLE HANDS WITH ABILITY TO GRIP ERECT UPPER BODY COLLARBONE
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Primates are an order of mammals which includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans Where do we separate? Primates
COMMON PRIMATE TRAITS • 5 DIGITS ON BOTH HANDS & FEET • NAILS INSTEAD OF CLAWS • FLEXIBLE HANDS WITH ABILITY TO GRIP • ERECT UPPER BODY • COLLARBONE • SMALL NOSE, NO ACUTE SENSE OF SMELL • USE OF VISION AS PRIMARY SENSE • LARGE & COMPLEX BRAIN • EFFICIENT FETAL NOURISHMENT • LONG PERIODS OF INFANT DEPENDENCY AND LEARNED BEHAVIOR • ADULT MALES ALWAYS PRESENT WITHIN GROUP (HELP IN CHILD REARING).
Trends in Primate Evolution • Larger body size • Increasing brain size or cranial capacity • More upright standing • Living in or near trees • A diet that includes plants and animals • Binocular vision that allows for depth perception
Trends in Primate Evolution continued… • Specialized color vision • A decreasing number of young produced al one time • Longer embryonic and childhood development • Specialized thumb • Increasing lifespan • Growing complexity of social behavior
Differences Between Man and Apes • Humans have the development of more specialized areas in the brain • Humans have a more vertical face plate • Humans have a smaller jaw and more evenly rounded arch • Humans have smaller canine teeth • Humans have smaller molars • Humans have longer lower limbs (legs) and shorter upper limbs (arms)
The biggy…Bipedalism • Bipedalism is erect posture and walking with two feet • Bipedalism was important in developing the ability to hunt and make tools
The World of our... ANCESTORS
Hominids • Hominidsare a family of primates which includes all two-legged manlike species, extinct or living • Examples of hominids are erect walking apes, ourselves and our ancestors
The Australopithecines • Means “Southern Ape” • Australopithecus was an erect walking ape that was a member of the hominid family • There were at least 5 kinds of Australopithecines, but probably one was man’s ancestor • Australopithecines lived 5 to 1 million years ago
Lucy • Lucy was an Australopithecus Afarensis • Her skeleton was discovered by Donald Johanson in Ethiopia in 1974 • She was the most complete pre-human skeleton ever found • Her bones gave many clues about her anatomy, diet and lifestyle
More Discoveries of A. Afarensis Fossils • Footprints at Laetoli • 3.6 mya • Footprints of two creatures formed in fresh lava ash. • 1975 • Mary Leakey • Laetoli, Tanzania • Significance • Determined Height by length of stride 4’-4’8” • Confirmed Bipedality by this time • Big toe in line • Heel toe strike when walking
Louis Leakey and Olduvai Gorge • Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife, Mary , did their fieldwork at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania • Dr. Richard Leakey, their son , currently does fieldwork in the Lake Turkana region • Louis Leakey is credited with the discovery of Homo Habilis, the first human
Homo Habilis2.3-1.6 mya • “Handy Man” • Homo Habilis was the earliest known species of the genus homo • Probably made tools • Probably scavenged for meat and ate vegetation • Skull was 30% larger than Australopithecines • Brain much more human like in shape.
Homo Erectus1.9-.3 mya • “Erect or Upright Man” • Homo Erectus was the first large brained human • Sometimes called “JavaMan” or “Peking Man”
Homo Heidelbergensis 700-100,000 years ago • The between species. • Features of Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. • Very robust mandible, no chin • Very prominent brow ridge • Increased cranial capacity. • Smaller teeth but bigger than Homo sapiens.
Neanderthal Man 250-30,000 years ago • Homo Neanderthalensis • This species was human , but was probably not an ancestor to modern humans
Neanderthal Man • Neanderthal man had large arms and legs • His brain was actually larger than modern humans, but the language and speech center of the brain was not well developed • Neantherthal man was a hunter who made tools, had primitive language skills and used fire
Homo Sapiens-Sapiens 130,000 years ago-Present • “Thinking Man” • Lighter build in skeleton • Enormous brain capacity • 1300 cc from 400 cc of early Australopithicine. • Early discoveries called Cro-Magnon Man.