Humans and Other Primates

Theories

Most scientists agree that there is enough evidence to support the theory that humans, apes, and monkeys share a common ancestor

Many fossils of organisms show traits of both humans and apes

Primates

Primates: a group of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys, and lemurs Have opposable thumbs (5

flexible fingers) Have binocular vision (eyes are

located on front of head and provide 3-D vision

First primatesAncestors of primates were mouse-like mammals that were active at night, lived in trees, and ate insects

First primates did not exist until dinosaurs died out

Chimpanzee is the closest living relative of humans This doesn’t mean that humans

descended from chimps Means that humans and chimps

had a common ancestor

Hominids

Humans are in a family separate from other primates

Hominids: includes only humans and their human-like ancestors

Main characteristic that separates hominids from other primates is bipedalism walking up right on two feet

Hominids Through Time Scientists have named at least 18

types of hominids Earliest hominids

Ability to walk upright, smaller teeth, flatter faces, larger brains that earlier primates

Oldest hominid fossils have been found in Africa

Australopithecines

Members of this group were similar to apes but different in several ways

Some may have used stone tools

Climbed trees, but walked on two legs

Variety of Early Hominids

Global Hominids About 2.3 million years ago, new group of

hominids appeared Larger and more complex brains, rounder

skulls, and flatter faces that earlier hominids

Showed advanced tool-making abilities Walked upright

Members of group Homo, which includes modern humans (Homo Sapiens)

Early member of this group was Homo hablis, which lived 2 million year ago

Homo erectus appeared a million years later and grew as tall as modern humans

Recent Hominids

As recently as 30,000 years ago, two types of hominids may have lived in the same areas at the same time

Both had largest brains of any hominid More advanced tools, clothing, and art Modern humans may have descended

from one of these two types of hominids

Neanderthals Lived in Europe and

western Asia Hunted large animals,

made fires, and wore clothing

Disappeared 30,000 years ago and no one knows what caused their extinction

Early and Modern Humans Modern humans

are classified as Homo sapiens

Earliest group existed in Africa

Of all known hominids, only Homo sapiens exist Seem to be the

first to create art