www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
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.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
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.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Identify these primate species that you will fi nd at Wellington Zoo.
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.3Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
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
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.4Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
Old World Monkeye.g: Hamadryas baboon
Old World Monkeye.g: Hamadryas baboon
Observe :
Observe (Behaviours):
Prosimiane.g: black and white ruffed lemur
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:
New World Monkeye.g: capuchin monkey
New World Monkeye.g: capuchin monkey
Apee.g: white cheeked gibbon
Apee.g: white cheeked gibbon
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
Old World Monkeye.g: Hamadryas baboon
Observe (Behaviours):
Prosimiane.g: black and white ruffed lemur
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
Apee.g: white cheeked gibbon
p.5Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.6Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
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
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.7Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
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.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.8Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
As your learning progresses, label the features of the Homo erectus skull below. Two have been done for you, as an example.
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.9Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
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.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.10Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
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?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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.
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.11Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
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?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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
•
•
•
•
www.wellingtonzoo.co.nz
p.12Journey of Discovery - Primate Evolution
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.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
What scientifi c methods did you use to form and test ideas about primate evolution theories?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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?
Top Related