Chapter 2
Bipedal locomotion, making of Stone tools, increase in brain size their appearances drawn
out over millions of years.
Earliest flaked Stone tools 2.6 – 2.5 million years ago.
Evolution Darwin’s on the origin of species descent with modification & survival of the
fittest.
Gradualism slow and steady accumulation of small changes over a long period of time
produces major changes in the descendants.
Punctuated equilibrium periods of more rapid evolution of a short period of time are
separated by longer periods of little change,
Adaptive radiation among a set of related species, members radiate and branch out to
occupy and adapt to a range of niches in the environment.
One or a few species can rapidly evolve into many related but diverse species, each
occupying a slightly different ecological niche.
Descent from African apes 8 – 6 million years ago
Selected for the early development of tool use and development of symbolic communication
(language) also for any genetic basis (lager en more complex brains) to help support and
promote these behaviors.
Primates; humans, apes, monkeys and prosimians
- Tropical and sub-tropical species, arboreal. Humans are the exception
- Many developments, from claws to nails and getting a larger brain
Two subgroups
- The lower primates; prosimii; lemurs, lorises, tarsiers
Closer to earlier primate species, less developed
- The higher primates; anthropoidea
Brain development and developments of visual senses
Cenozoic = current era, started 65 million years ago
- Mammals became the dominant land animals
60 – 35 million years ago (Eocene); primates emerged who show affinity to the lower
primates wide spread across the northern continental landmass, not in South America (not
attached yet). At their expense the higher primates became diurnal (daytime) and the lower
primates became nocturnal (night) except on Madagascar.
35 – 22 million years ago (Oligocene) anthropoids leave distinctive traces in archeological
record. Prosimians decline retaining presence in southern Asia and Africa.
Early anthropoid features; deeper jaw fused at the midline (tie to present-day monkeys),
dental formula 2.1.2.3
20 million years ago (Miocene) emerge distinct lineages of old world monkeys and apes
(hominoids).
5 million years ago ( end of Miocene) ape were relatively few and geographically restricted
than in early Miocene. Monkeys more spread.
Humans apes divergence from other apes
- there are strong morphological similarities between humans and great apes, particularly the
African great apes ( chimpanzees and gorillas)
Anatomical evidence (descent from old world monkeys)
- traits like broadened nose, a widened palate, lack of a tail and an enlarged brain
- mobile shoulder joint, many aspects of out trunk
Bipedal locomotion, making of Stone tools, increase in brain size their appearances drawn
out over millions of years.
Earliest flaked Stone tools 2.6 – 2.5 million years ago.
Evolution Darwin’s on the origin of species descent with modification & survival of the
fittest.
Gradualism slow and steady accumulation of small changes over a long period of time
produces major changes in the descendants.
Punctuated equilibrium periods of more rapid evolution of a short period of time are
separated by longer periods of little change,
Adaptive radiation among a set of related species, members radiate and branch out to
occupy and adapt to a range of niches in the environment.
One or a few species can rapidly evolve into many related but diverse species, each
occupying a slightly different ecological niche.
Descent from African apes 8 – 6 million years ago
Selected for the early development of tool use and development of symbolic communication
(language) also for any genetic basis (lager en more complex brains) to help support and
promote these behaviors.
Primates; humans, apes, monkeys and prosimians
- Tropical and sub-tropical species, arboreal. Humans are the exception
- Many developments, from claws to nails and getting a larger brain
Two subgroups
- The lower primates; prosimii; lemurs, lorises, tarsiers
Closer to earlier primate species, less developed
- The higher primates; anthropoidea
Brain development and developments of visual senses
Cenozoic = current era, started 65 million years ago
- Mammals became the dominant land animals
60 – 35 million years ago (Eocene); primates emerged who show affinity to the lower
primates wide spread across the northern continental landmass, not in South America (not
attached yet). At their expense the higher primates became diurnal (daytime) and the lower
primates became nocturnal (night) except on Madagascar.
35 – 22 million years ago (Oligocene) anthropoids leave distinctive traces in archeological
record. Prosimians decline retaining presence in southern Asia and Africa.
Early anthropoid features; deeper jaw fused at the midline (tie to present-day monkeys),
dental formula 2.1.2.3
20 million years ago (Miocene) emerge distinct lineages of old world monkeys and apes
(hominoids).
5 million years ago ( end of Miocene) ape were relatively few and geographically restricted
than in early Miocene. Monkeys more spread.
Humans apes divergence from other apes
- there are strong morphological similarities between humans and great apes, particularly the
African great apes ( chimpanzees and gorillas)
Anatomical evidence (descent from old world monkeys)
- traits like broadened nose, a widened palate, lack of a tail and an enlarged brain
- mobile shoulder joint, many aspects of out trunk
