Primate evolution & human origins. Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history...

Primate evolution & human origins

Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history

Darwin, 1859

During many years I collected notes on the origin or descent of man, without any intention of publishing on the subject, but rather with the determination not to publish, as I thought that I should thus only add to the prejudices against my views.

Darwin, 1871

Primates

Prosimii Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea

Platyrrhini Catarrhini

Cercopithecoidea Hominoidea

Hylobatidae Hominidae

Ponginae Homininae

Primates

Prosimii Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea

tarsierlemur

Primates

Prosimii Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea

Platyrrhini Catarrhini

Primates

Prosimii Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea

Platyrrhini Catarrhini

Cercopithecoidea Hominoidea

Primates

Prosimii Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea

Platyrrhini Catarrhini

Cercopithecoidea Hominoidea

Hylobatidae Hominidae

Primates

Prosimii Tarsiiformes Anthropoidea

Platyrrhini Catarrhini

Cercopithecoidea Hominoidea

Hylobatidae Hominidae

Ponginae Homininae

Pongo pygmaeus

Ponginae

Pan troglodytes

Pan paniscus

Homininae

Gorilla gorilla

Homo sapiens

Morphological and molecular analyses demonstrate that humans are closely related to gorillas and chimpanzees

Gigantopithecus blackii

gorilla

human

Ape & Human common ancestor

opposable hallux

luxuriant body hair

ape-sized brain

knuckle-walker (not bipedal)

complex social relationships

used simple tools

The phylogenetic relationships among the species of fossil hominids have not been definitively established

The fossil record includes a diversity of hominids that lived after the human lineage and the chimpanzee lineage separated

Sahalanthropus tchadensis

Ardipithecus ramidus

4.4 MYAknown only from teeth

Australopithecus anamensis

3.9 - 4.2 MYAknown only from jaws & teeth

Australopithecus afarensis

3.0 - 3.9 MYA‘Lucy’

Australopithecus afarensis

Australopithecus afarensis

Australopithecus afarensis

Australopithecus afarensis

‘Robust’ australopithecines

Genus: Paranthropus

3 species: aethiopicus, boisei, robustus

not human ancestors

large molars

powerful jaws

bony crest on skull

Paranthropus aethiopicus

1.9 - 2.7 MYAformerly Australopithecus

Paranthropus boisei

1.4 - 2.3 MYAformerly Australopithecus

Paranthropus boisei

Paranthropus robustus

1.0 - 2.0 MYAformerly Australopithecus

‘Gracile’ australopithecines

Genus: Australopithecus

3 species: afarensis, africanus

human ancestors

small braincases

bipedal

make/use stone tools

Australopithecus africanus

2.4 - 2.8 MYAhuman lineage unknown

Australopithecus africanus

The earliest known stone tools predate the earliest known Homo species

Homo rudolfensis

1.8 - 2.4 MYAconspecific with H. habilis?

Homo habilis

1.6 - 1.9 MYAformerly Australopithecus

Homo habilis

An analysis of the skulls of Homo habilis suggest that they may have had at least rudimentary language

Homo erectus

Homo erectus

Homo ergaster

1.5 - 1.8 MYAAfrican H. erectus

Homo ergaster

Homo ergaster

Homo heidelbergensis

immediate ancestor to H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens

Homo neanderthalensis

Homo neanderthalensis

Homo neanderthalensis & H. sapiens

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Homo neanderthalensis & H. sapiens

Homo neanderthalensis & H. sapiens

Analyses of a limited sample of ancient DNA suggest that modern humans and Neandertals were distinct lineages, and that modern humans emerging from Africa replaced Neandertals in Europe

What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals!

Hamlet, William Shakespeare

The origin of modern Homo sapiens is controversial

Homo sapiens

Morphological analyses suggest that modern humans evolved in Africa, then replaced archaic humans elsewhere

bipedalism

big brains

naked skin

Causes of hominid evolution

Pelvic girdle

female male

Tilted forwardBones lighter, thinner, smootherCavity of true pelvis:

broad, shallowAcetabulasmaller, further apartPubic arch broaderPelvic brim widerSacrum wider, shorter

chimpanzee

human

gorilla

human

There are one hundred and ninety-three living species of monkeys and apes. One hundred and ninety-two of them are covered with hair. The exception is a naked ape self-named Homo sapiens.

Desmond Morris

gibbon chimpanzeeorangutan gorilla human