Journey of discovery - Primate Evolution Yr13 …...Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution p.2...

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Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution p.1

Objectives• To analyse the evolutionary trends in skull, skeletal, and cultural development of hominids

• To use scientifi c methods to form and test ideas about primate evolution theories

• To make observations of the Zoo’s primate species and present your fi ndings for peer review

and debate, using scientifi c language and knowledge.

These objectives support the learning of students towards achieving achievement standard 3.7:

Describe trends in human evolution.

Wellington Zoo’s Living Room houses a number of hominid skulls for you to analyse. The Zoo is

also home to ten primate species; the most diverse collection in New Zealand. You will have the

opportunity to observe examples of prosimians, old and new world monkeys, and apes.

There are many theories about how our own species, Homo sapiens, has evolved. One of the

amazing and frustrating things about this topic is that nobody can categorically say which species

lead to another species and so on. Also, new developments and discoveries are occurring constantly,

especially with advances in DNA testing, so scientists have to continuously update their knowledge.

As a young scientist at Wellington Zoo today, you are part of that process.

Use this space here to record any questions you have that you can research later on.

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p.2Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution

What is a primate?Although there are distinguishing features between different primate groups, there are some

common characteristics that enable us to classify primates collectively.

As you observe the primates at Wellington Zoo, make a list below of those binding characteristics.

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Identify these primate species that you will fi nd at Wellington Zoo.

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Primate CharacteristicsHow do the primate species differ? Consider the behavioural, structural, and physiological differences.

For your own record, write or draw the different primate characteristics in the table as you observe them at Wellington Zoo.

Old World Monkeye.g: Hamadryas baboon

Observe: Prosimiane.g: black and white ruffed lemur

Tail:present, length, furred, prehensile

Limbs:Length of forelimbs relative to hind

Snout:pointed, round or fl attened

Nostrils: position on snout, spacing and direction

Eyes:facing forwards or sideways

Brow ridges:how prominent if present

Hands and feet:length of digits, opposable

New World Monkeye.g: capuchin monkey

Apee.g: white cheeked gibbon





Observe :

Observe (Behaviours):

Prosimiane.g: black and white ruffed lemur


Hindquarters:Sitting patches or furry buttocks

Foraging:

Size of teeth:large or reduced canines

Grooming:

Other:

Other:

Other:

Other:







Observe (Behaviours):


Communication:

Parental care:

Locomotion: brachiating, quadrupedal,

knuckle walking

Tool use:

Displaying: (aggressive behaviour)

Play:

Nocturnal or diurnal:

Other:

Other:

New World Monkeye.g:capuchin monkey





Primate EvolutionDid you know that humans are a primate species too? Scientists now know, from fossil and

DNA evidence, that our closest relative is the chimpanzee. This does not mean we evolved from

chimpanzees, it means that we share a common ancestor. Was there any evidence of our close

relationship with chimpanzees, through your observation of Wellington Zoo’s chimpanzee troop?

Primate evolution can be thought of as a succession of adaptive radiations (a ‘bush’ of life); with

divergent groups splitting off; some becoming extinct and others continuing to evolve. By comparing

the physical characteristics of different primates, we can unravel the evolutionary sequence that has

Homo sapiens in the present time, along with other living primates.

Hominins are the group consisting of modern humans, extinct human species, and all our

immediate ancestors (including members of the genera Homo, Australopithecus, Paranthropus and

Ardipithecus).

Evidence has shown us that hominins split from chimpanzees between four to six million years ago,

as demonstrated on the tree below.

60 MYAdiagram not to scale

40 MYA

24 MYA

16 MYA

4-6 MYA

Present



Evolutionary TrendsIn your primate evolution learning session we will analyse the skull, teeth, skeletal, and cultural

trends that provide evidence of this evolution. In order to understand our past and appreciate

how we got to where we are today, it is important to be able to both describe the trends, and

give a possible explanation as to the cause of the trend. For example, in a comparison between

two hominin skulls, the mandible (lower jaw bone) might be heavily reduced in one, due to a

change in diet, and the move from coarse, tough food requiring much chewing, to high grade

food, such as meat.

Skull TrendsHere is a picture of a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) skull and a human (Homo sapien) skull. With your current knowledge, compare the two skulls and list fi ve differences you can see.

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As your learning progresses, label the features of the Homo erectus skull below. Two have been done for you, as an example.



Skeletal TrendsHere is are pictures of a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) skeleton and a human (Homo sapien) skeleton. With your current knowledge, compare the two skeletons and list at least three differences you can see.

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Cultural EvolutionCultural evolution focuses on the trend of increasing behavioural complexity. It involves the passing

on of learned ideas and behaviours to offspring (a non-genetic means of adaptation). A number of

selection pressures led to these developments, including:

• Environmental forces- climatic change, causing alterations in habitat (drier,

forests gradually disappeared) and food supply (new resources had to be

experimented with; became opportunists/ scavengers); fi erce predators

(ground dwelling lifestyle became dangerous- needed smart solutions).

• Resulting physical features- large brain, capable of learning, planning, and passing on ideas,

good eyesight, teeth suitable for varied foods, curved backbone for walking upright, hands

available and able to grasp and manipulate objects etc.

What do you think were the impacts of these developments on culture?

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During your primate evolution learning session at Wellington Zoo, the

development of tool use will be a key focus, as this has been a signifi cant

milestone in the cultural evolution of modern humans.



Tool UseMatch the tools with the correct name, date of use, and hominin that appears to have used them.

In your observations of Wellington Zoo’s primate species you may see various examples of tool

use. Tool use is more common in species that are more closely related to humans, which is why the

keepers at Wellington Zoo often provide complicated enrichment for the chimpanzees, as opposed

to the basic items you might see in the lemur enclosure. Enrichment is anything that aids the

development or use of an animal’s natural behaviour, such as tool use.

What enrichment can you fi nd in the monkey and chimpanzee enclosures that specifi cally encourages the use of tools?

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Acheulian - Homo erectus

& Homo heidelbergensis

1.5- 2.6 million years ago

Upper Paleolithic -

Last of the Homo

neanderthalensis &

modern Homo sapien

50,000- 200,000 years ago

Oldowan - Homo habilis

100,000- 1.75 million years ago

Mousterian - Homo

neanderthalensis & early

Homo sapien

35, 000- 45, 000 years ago

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SummaryYour investigations at Wellington Zoo will have given you the opportunity to analyse the evolutionary

trends in skull, skeletal, and cultural development of hominids.

What are two of the most interesting things you learnt at Wellington Zoo? Write them here and share your fi ndings with a classmate.

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What scientifi c methods did you use to form and test ideas about primate evolution theories?

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Go back to the questions you formed on page one to check which questions remain unanswered.

How can you fi nd the answers to these questions?

Journey of discovery - Primate Evolution Yr13 …...Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution p.2...

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