Week 3 Lecture 3 - Primate evolution Flashcards
What order are humans a part of?
the primates
What percentage of our genes do we share with chimpanzees?
98%
What happened 65 mya?
primates evolved
dinosaurs went extinct
What are anthropoids?
primates that look like modern monkeys
abundant 34-23 mya
When did monkeys replace apes?
during the Miocene
When was the Miocene?
23-5 mya
Primate is a diverse taxa, how many species are listed in it?
424
What are some characteristics of primates?
- opposable big toe and thumbs
- flat nails, not claws
- locomotion is hind-limb dominated
- dry nose
- forward facing eyes
- binocular vision
- generalised dentition
Do all primates have the same characteristics?
no
Who is Carl Von Linne?
father of modern taxonomy
Who developed the binomial nomenclature?
Carl Von Linne
What family are humans a part of?
Hominidae
What subfamily are humans?
Homininae (Homo, Pan and Gorilla)
What are some characteristics of apes?
- all apes have more flexible shoulders for brachiation and more upright posture
- apes lack tails
Are humans great apes?
yes
Are monkeys and apes the same?
No
What happened 6 mya?
we shared a common ancestor with bonobos and chimpanzees
What are the 5 types of great apes?
orangutans
gorilla
humans
chimpanzees
bonbons
What is the name for humans?
Homo sapiens
Why don’t we have hairier faces?
phylogenetic history - our ancestors had reduced facial hair
adaptive value? - could bald faces improve signalling effectiveness e.g., emotions
- decrease parasites
What is socioecology?
study of how ecological forces shape the size and structure of social groups
What are some common socioecology of primates?
- most primates are arboreal
- primates have adapted to other habitats
- primates have a slower life history than similarly sized mammals
- most primates live in groups (usually small ones)
what is the best living model for the phylogeny of human behaviour and cognition?
chimpanzees and bonobos
What are chimpanzees go at and what do they struggle with?
very good at solving physical problems
not so good in the social domain (e.g., social learning
