Biology Notebook: 05.

03 Primate Evolution
Objectives:
 Examine the evolutionary relationships between humans and other primates
 Recognize the names and relative ages of extinct hominids
 Summarize the events and forces that shaped human evolution

Key Questions and Terms Notes

Primates
What are primates?
List and describe the four traits that primates 1.
have in common. 2.
3.
4.
What type of evidence shows that some species
of primates are closely related?
Misconception alert: When did humans diverge
from apes?
Human Origins
Does evidence show that evolution occurs as a
linear path or a branching tree?
What is paleoanthropology?
Briefly describe the skulls of the species found  7.6 –6 million years ago
during these years:  3.6 –2.8 mya
 7.6 –6 million years ago  3 –1 mya
 3.6 –2.8 mya  2 –1.5 mya
 3 –1 mya  1.6 mya –300 thousand years ago
 2 –1.5 mya  130 –35 tya
 1.6 mya –300 thousand years ago  195 tya –now
 130 –35 tya
 195 tya –now

Sample Question:
Which of the following is not true about Australopithicus africanus?

A. Had a larger brain than the modern chimpanzee

B. Teeth were smaller than the modern human
C. They walked upright
D. Found in the African savannah