Chapter 5: Learning About the Past: The Primates

Overview
This chapter surveys the group of animals to which humans belong – the primates. The taxonomic method is used to compare and contrast primates with other mammals and the key areas of anatomy and behavior that serve to distinguish primates are examined. Included is a primate portfolio – a description of the groups, sub-groups and individual species that make up the primate order. Genetic evidence is presented to establish the relationship between humans and their closest primate relatives. The second part of the chapter explores the fossil record for early primate evolution and explains the factors that may have led to the first prosimians and later to the higher primates.

Practice Exam (45 Questions)

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