Prosimians Prehistoric Cultures Tim Roufs’ section ©2009-2012

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