The Primate Order

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The Primate Order

• Robert Rhoades
• Dept. of Anthropology
• The University of Georgia, Athens

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A. InsectivoresAncient Ancestors
Tree Shrew
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B. Two Suborders

• Strepsirhines
• Haplorhines

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Strepsirhines

• Lemur (Lemuriodea)
• Loris (Lorisoidea)

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Contd.. Strepsirhines

• Characteristics
• Open eye orbits
• Long snouts with good sense of small
• Skillful hands
• Vertical clingers and leapers

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Haplorhines

• Tarsiers (Tarsiodea)
• Old world monkeys (Cercopithecoidea) Catarrhini

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Contd.. Haplorhines

• Characteristics
• Stereoscopic vision,
• Brain development
• Touch
• reproduction

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Contd.. Haplorhines

• New World Monkeys (Ceboidea). Platyrrhini.

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Divergent evolution and Convergent evolution
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Evidence of Convergent Evolution
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4. Small Apes (Hylobatidae)

• Gibbon

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5. Pongidae (Asian Great Apes)

• Organ-Utan

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5. Hominidae (African Apes, humans, and near
humans)

• Gorilla
• Chimpanzee
• Bonobos
• Humans

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6. Similarities between Apes and Humans

• Anatomical
• Broad flat back,
• extensive arm mobility, and
• cross-over legs
• Social behavior
• Fossil record

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Brachiation (Arm-Swinging)

• Maybe gave rise to knuckle-walking

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