2022-10-2
Early Fossil Primates
ANTH 201
1
Primate Characteristics Canbe per
servedinskeletalremains
• Grasping hands
Ancestors
• Vision and smell maynothaveall characteristics
• Large brains and complex behaviour
• Generalized skeleton
2
Primate Fossils through the Epochs
Era Period Epoch Period Notable events
begins (Ma)
Cenozoic Quaternary Recent 0.01 Origins of
agriculture, complex
societies
Tertiary Pleistocene 1.8 Appearance of Homo
sapiens
Pliocene 5 Dominance by
angiosperms,
Miocene 23
mammals, birds,
Oligocene 34 insects;
diversification of
Eocene 54
primates
Paleocene 65
Mesozoic Cretaceous Rise of angiosperms,
disappearance of
dinosaurs
3
, 2022-10-2
Continental Drift and Climate Change Aslandmasses shift theenvironment
changes
4
Continental Drift and Climate Change Drasticdecrease in globaltemperatures
• Warmer temperatures before mid-Miocene
5
Fossil primate distribution Fossils aremuchgreaterduetopast
• Climate change – fossil primate distribution was wider due to warmer
climates in North America, Europe
warmertemperatures comparedto the
livingdistributiontoday
300fossils 79 living
6
Early Fossil Primates
ANTH 201
1
Primate Characteristics Canbe per
servedinskeletalremains
• Grasping hands
Ancestors
• Vision and smell maynothaveall characteristics
• Large brains and complex behaviour
• Generalized skeleton
2
Primate Fossils through the Epochs
Era Period Epoch Period Notable events
begins (Ma)
Cenozoic Quaternary Recent 0.01 Origins of
agriculture, complex
societies
Tertiary Pleistocene 1.8 Appearance of Homo
sapiens
Pliocene 5 Dominance by
angiosperms,
Miocene 23
mammals, birds,
Oligocene 34 insects;
diversification of
Eocene 54
primates
Paleocene 65
Mesozoic Cretaceous Rise of angiosperms,
disappearance of
dinosaurs
3
, 2022-10-2
Continental Drift and Climate Change Aslandmasses shift theenvironment
changes
4
Continental Drift and Climate Change Drasticdecrease in globaltemperatures
• Warmer temperatures before mid-Miocene
5
Fossil primate distribution Fossils aremuchgreaterduetopast
• Climate change – fossil primate distribution was wider due to warmer
climates in North America, Europe
warmertemperatures comparedto the
livingdistributiontoday
300fossils 79 living
6
