prosimians prehistoric cultures tim roufs’ section ©2009-2012
TRANSCRIPT
Prosimians
Prehistoric CulturesTim Roufs’ section ©2009-2012
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1602/pcprim.html#Prosimii
Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 101
Classification chart (after Linnaeus)
Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 101
Classification chart (after Linnaeus)
Primate taxonomic classificationUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 129
Prosimians(pre-monkeys)
Taxonomy
Prosimii tree shrew (insectivore)
lemurloristarsier
Common NameSuborder
Anthropoidea
Taxonomy
Prosimii tree shrew (insectivore)
Common NameSuborder
(Pen – Tailed) Tree Shrew, Borneo
• REM: the tree shrew is an insectivore not a primate
• S.E. Asia and Indonesia
Indonesia and Borneo
Java
Borneo
Indonesia
Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 133
BorneoIndonesia
(Pen – Tailed) Tree Shrew, Borneo
• REM: the tree shrew is an insectivore not a primate
• S.E. Asia and Indonesia• sharp-clawed digits• old fossil forms show flattened nails• some are nocturnal• about the size of a squirrel • approximation of earliest phase in the
evolution of primates
Pen – Tailed Tree Shrew, BorneoThe Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 20
p. 133
Taxonomy
Prosimii tree shrew (insectivore)
lemur
Common NameSuborder
Primate taxonomic classificationUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 129
Lemur
Geographical distribution of modern lemurs
Madagascar
Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 131
(Dwarf) Lemur, Madagascar
• size and appearance of a raccoon• independently moveable ears• mostly nocturnal• approximate midpoint between insectivores
and monkeys• widespread during Eocene, and is of interest
because of little change since Eocene– (36-58 million yrs. B.P.)
• most digits have flat nails rather than claws• has uneven body temperature
(Dwarf) Lemur, MadagascarThe Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 12
p. 131
Ring-tailed lemurUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 132
p. 131
Sifakas in their native habitat in MadagascarUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 132
p. 131
p. 131
Lemur, Madagascar
p. 131
p. 131
Taxonomy
Prosimii tree shrew (insectivore)
lemurloris
Common NameSuborder
Primate taxonomic classificationUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 129
Loris
Loris
• Malaysia, S.E. Asia
Java
Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 133
Malaysia
Loris
• Malaysia, S.E. Asia• nocturnal• large eyes• feeds largely on insects, birds, and bird’s
eggs• strong hands• backbone has more vertebrae than any other
primate
Loris, MalaysiaThe Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 29
p. 133
Slow lorisp. 126
Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 132
p. 133
Taxonomy
Prosimii tree shrew (insectivore)
lemurloris
– bush baby
Common NameSuborder
Galago, or “bush baby” (Lorisiforme)Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 132
p. 133
Taxonomy
Prosimii tree shrew (insectivore)
lemurloris
– bush baby
tarsier
Common NameSuborder
Primate taxonomic classificationUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 129
Tarsier
Java
Understanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 133
Malaysia
Indonesia
Borneo
Java
Geographical distribution of modern tarsiers
Tarsier
• North central Indonesia• extreme development of tarsal bones• smaller than lemur, about the size of a rat• small nose, large goggly eyes• at least 25 genera in Eocene times
(36-58 million yrs. B.P.)– today there is only one
• arboreal• nocturnal• 180 degree head swivel
Tarsier, Indonesia
The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 23
p. 133
TarsierUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 133
p. 133
Primates
Earliest primates =Prosimians(pre-monkeys)
Primate taxonomic classificationUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 129
Prosimians
A Primate Family Tree
The Emergence of Humankind, 4th ed., p. 64
New WorldMonkeys
Old WorldMonkeys
ca. 50 mya
Primate taxonomic classificationUnderstanding Humans, 10th ed., p. 129
Next:
Monkeys