ARCH 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Eutheria, Convergent Evolution, Adaptive Radiation

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Archaeology
• Course: ARCH 131
• Professor: Dennis Sandgathe

Document Summary

We have our characterisics because we inherited them. Primates are our closest evoluionary relaives: studying other primates will inform us about aspects of our own evoluionary history. Phyla = chordata (we have a back bone) Class = mammalia: mammalia is divided into three infraclasses. The infraclass eutheria includes about two dozen diferent orders, one of which is primata: grasping hands with opposable 1st and 2nd digits. Prehensibility: flatened nails, forward facing eyes, stereoscopic vision i. These 3 traits make a lot of sense if youre a hyper arboreal species, aka well adapted to living in the trees. Obligate : generalized deniion (teeth, reduced olfactory systems (reduced sense of smell, plus. Most primates are above this, humans are really above this tho: how brains are huge for a mammal our size. The things you learn are what you need to become independent and leave the infanile/juvenile period. Reduced chance that any one individual will be the unlucky meal for a predator.