Human Evolution Study Guide

- BIO112

What are 3 characteristics that all primates posses?

Large brain, opposable thumbs, and loose shoulders/hips

What characteristics distinguish the lorises, pottos, etc. from all other primates?

They are all strictly nocturnal

What characteristic distinguishes all monkeys from apes?

Arms and legs are of equal length and they have a tail

What characteristic distinguishes the old world monkeys from new world monkeys?

Prehensile tail, nostrils open to the side and far apart whereas old world monkeys tail is not prehensile and nostrils open downwards and closer together

How long ago did the chimpanzee and human lineage split from one another? Write this on the diagram above.

5-7 mya

How long ago did Homo sapiens evolve?

100,000 years ago

List/describe the major changes that happened in the lineage that gave rise to humans.

Feeding habits, monogamy, bipedalism, etc.

what order does the lineae diagram go?

Prosimians, new world monkeys, old world monkeys, gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, chimps, Homo sapiens