Evolution of the Primates

65 mya: Radiation of mammal orders Primates pioneer arboreal niche

Plesiadapis, 65 mya

Two Prosimians:Tree Shrew Lemur

Face?

Eyes?

Vision vs. Smell

Lemur: communication and scent

The Nose:Lemur vs. Anthropoid

Social uses of smell

Vision

Prosimians andAnthropoids

Eyes and field of vision

The eyes of primates, especially anthropoids, face forward. Why? Depth perceptionAnthropoids also evolved color vision

Why Vision?

Two Prosimians:Tree Shrew Lemur

Feet?

First Anthropoids: 40 myaFirst Apes: 30 mya

Oreopithecus

The Living Apes: Gibbon, Gorilla, Orangutan, Bonobo, Chimpanzee

How is an ape different from a monkey?

Ape vs. Monkey Locomotion:Adaptation for Brachiation

Next...

Primate Behavior