PA L E OBIOLO G Y /E V OLUTION
Primates
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CRANIAL VOLUME (cm3)
The evolutionary history of the primates can be traced back 65 million years, not long after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Their subsequent history has been marked by a prolonged and dramatic increase in head size and cranial capacity.
Laetoli footprints: see overleaf
TAXONOMY
The Primates The Simians
The Catarrhini
The Hominoids
Hominidae
Homininae
Hominini
Human
HUMANS
Chimpanzee
EXTINCT PRIMATES
Gorilla Smilodectes: 55 million years ago
Plesiadapis is one of the oldest known primate-like mammals: 65–55 million years ago
Aegyptopithecus: 35–33 million years ago
GREAT APES
Orangutan
Pliopithecus: 25–10 million years ago
Gibbons Proconsul: 21–17 million years ago
LESSER APES
Baboon
OLD WORLD MONKEYS Macaque
Spider monkey
NEW WORLD MONKEYS
Tarsiers
Lemurs
PROSIMIANS
Lorises
LIVING PRIMATES Lemur
Tarsier
Loris
Spider monkey
Macaque
Gibbon
Baboon Orangutan
CRETACEOUS
L ATE
Gorilla
PALEOGENE
PALEOCENE
Chimpanzee
NEOGENE
EOCENE
OLIGOCENE
MIOCENE
PLIOCENE
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