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Objectives:
1. Explain the occurrence of evolution
2. Compare and contrast the features of primates
3. Identify the similarities and differences of primate skulls based on
structure

Types of Binocular Opposable Colored Tail Upright Uses Hand

Primate Vision Thumb Vision Walking Tools
Prosimians ✓ ✓ ✓
Monkeys ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Apes ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Humans ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

• Ancestral primates appeared 85 million years ago

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The Descent of Man by Darwin in 1871

Recent study shows…

Ardipithecus ramidus
• Found in 1992
• Appeared 4.4 to 4.5 million years ago

The Early Hominids

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Australopithecus anamensis
• Found in 1995
• Appeared 4.2 to 3.9 million years ago
Australopithecus africanus
• Found in 1924
• Appeared 3.0 to 2.9 million years ago
Australopithecus boisei
• Found in 1959
• Appeared 2.3 to 1.1 million years
ago
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Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy)
• Found in 1973
• Appeared 3.5 to 2.9 million years
ago
• Their brains were about 1/3 the
size of our = not as smart
• Did not make tools
Australopithecus robustus
• Found in 1938
• Appeared 2.1 to 1.6 million years ago
Homo habilis
• Known as handy man
• Taller than Lucy & their brain was
twice as big
• Found in 1960
• Appeared 2.4 to 1.5 million years
ago
• Had ability to make tools
• Remains found only in Africa
• Lived in small groups to work
together & protect each other
• First hominids to make simple
stone tools
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Homo erectus
• Known as Java man/ Upright
Man
• First to use FIRE
• Looked more human like
• Lived with groups in huts
• Found in 1893
• Appeared 1.8 to 300, 000 million
years ago
Homo neanderthalensis
• Found in 1856
• Appeared 230, 000 to 30, 000
million years ago
• Lived in Africa, Near East, Europe,
Asia
• Had large brains
• Had a sense of community, took
care of their sick and injured, &
had burials
• Lived, traveled & hunted in groups
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Homo heidelbergensis
• Known as Archaic H. erectus
• Found in 1921
• Appeared 500, 000 to 200, 000
million years ago
Homo sapiens
• Modern humans
• “Doubly Wise Man”
• Made better tools, shelter &
clothing than Neanderthals
• Made spears and bows and arrows
to hunt animals from a safe
distance.
• Made needles to sew animals
• The first artists – left behind cave
paintings of animals they hunted
and imaginary creatures.
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