Page 6 - Jan - March 2021

PRIMATE TREE’ OF LIFE

The evolution of monkeys and humans is closely related and is also highly debated. While much research is still
going on and new theories keep coming up there has been signifi cant discoveries in the past.

THE FIRST PRIMATES PRIMATE PATTERNS

The earliest primate-like creatures appeared in the Mesozoic Era (ca. All primates have some common features
65 million years ago) and the primate like mammals evolved in the like 5 fi ngers and toes, nails, grasping
early Paleocene Epoch (65.5-55.8 million years ago) at the beginning ability in limbs, erect posture, similar dental
of the Cenozoic Era. The fi rst primates evolved around 50 million years pattern, etc.
ago in the early Eocene epoch of the Cenozoic Era. They were adept in Learn more about the primates (prosimians,
climbing trees and a more stereoscopic vision developed at this time. New World monkeys, Old World monkeys,
These primates somewhat resemble modern prosimians like lemurs, apes, humans) and make a chart comparing
lorises, etc. their features such as tails, limbs, snout, eyes.
Suhana Sheikh Rahim, Class 8E, Army Public School,
Meerut Cantt.; Anvita Takate, Class 7A, Global Indian
International School, Balewadi, Pune

LUCY’S STORY

Lucy is known as the famous early
human ancestor who was found in
Hadar, Ethiopia in 1974. She belonged to
the Australopithecus afarensis species.
During excavations, one complete
skeleton of the species was found and
she was named Lucy. She’s 1.1 m tall and
her bones show that she was bipedal.

MONKEYS, APES AND HUMANS

Modern-day monkeys probably evolved during early example Proconsul which inhabited African forests 14
Oligocene epoch. Early monkey genus included million years ago.
Apidium and Aegyptopithecus. New World monkeys
Around 10-12 million years ago the
appeared for the fi rst time about 34 primate lineage split through
million years ago. It is believed
speciation from one common
that they came to South America ancestor to two major groups.
from North America or Africa as
Members of one group were the
the landmasses were joined at great apes who followed arboreal
that time, or through fl oating
lifestyle and the other group evolved
islands.
diff erently and became terrestrial
Apes evolved from Old World and evolved from quadrupeds to
monkeys in this period. For bipeds giving rise to modern humans.

ACTIVITY: PRIMATE PALMS
Match the hands with the following:
1. Gorilla 2. Human 3. Tarsier 4. Orangutan 5. Tree Shrew
6. Baboon
A B C D E F

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