ANT100Y1 Lecture 5: Primate and Human Evolution - From Paleocene to Pleistocene
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Average global temperature of 25 degrees celsius. Most of world covered in tropical forests. Body size: tiny, shrew-sized to size of small dog. Niche: likely solitary, nocturnal quadrupeds; well-developed sense of smell. Used to be classified as primates because of primate-like teeth and limbs that are adapted for arboreal lifestyle. Claws instead of nails (nails on soft tissue; claws attached to bone) More recent: primates - cladistic (phylogenetic) conclusion. Molecular origins of primates 84 mya (no concrete fossil evidence) By end of eocene, antarctica devoid of life--massive temperature drop. Average temperature peaked at above 30 degrees celsius. By end, temperature drops--jungles shrink, temperate forests and grasslands develop. Mainly arboreal quadrupeds, some were specialized leapers. Smaller adapids ate mostly fruit and insects, larger forms ate more fruit and leaves. Similar to lemurs--response to similar selection pressures. Omomyids thought to have been specialized leapers. Teeth: adapted for eating insects and soft fruits, only few species were leaf-eaters.
