ANTH 1032 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Aegyptopithecus, Proconsul Africanus, Pipreola
11 Mar 2014
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Document Summary
The rise of primates: pliocene hominid origins, miocene fossil hominoids, oligocene fossil anthropoids, eocene 1st appearance of true" primates, paleocene primate-like mammals. Primate-like teeth and limbs that are adapted for arboreal lifestyle. Size: tiny, shrew-sized to size of small dog. Why plesiadapids are not thought to be primates: no postorbital bar, claws instead of nails, eyes placed on side of head, , enlarged incisors. Mix of primate and non-primate characteristics: lacked depth perception, nail on big toe, lacked the appropriate structure for leaping, fruit eater. >200 primate species identified adaptive radiation: most extinct by end of eocene. Adapoidea (north america and europe), possible ancestor to lemurs. Omomyoidea (north america, europe, asia), possible ancestor to tarsiers. By the end of the eocene climatic change (cooler and dryer). Precursors to apes and monkeys allowed to overtake niches from earlier primates. Anthropoids (monkeys and apes) becoming prominent including ancestor to living monkeys. Lemurs and tarsiers thrive on madagascar only.
