Essay Example on Primate Evolution: Changes in Locomotion & Body Structure

Introduction

In anthropology definition, a primate is riffed to as a eutherian mammal that constitutes of the taxonomy order primate. Generally, the most important part of the primate evolution process consists of the experienced changes in locomotion and the structure of their body. However, these improved changes in the primate body structures and locomotion depended on the primate environment and its lifestyle (Cartmill & Matt, 218). But all in all, it aimed at enabling the primate to escape their predators in an easier manner as well as enabling them to withstand the hostile environment for survival. Thus this research aims at discussing the changes that occurred in locomotion and body configuration through primate evolution of the four main grades of primate evolution which includes; Grade 1 - The Lemuriods, Grade 2 - The Tarsiers, Grade 3 - The monkeys, and Grade 4 - The Ape and Man

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Grade 1 - The Lemuriods

According to Catlett and Kierstin (397), the origin of Lemurods dates back to the island of Madagascar 40 million years ago. While at the same time other fossils research of fossils from Africa, as well as some nuclear DNA test, suggest that the Lemuriods migrated to Madagascar 40 to 52 million years ago. While from other DNA nuclear sequence and mitochondrial comparison gives an alternative period that ranges from 62 to 65 million years ago. However, from all the archeologist findings, the island of Madagascar is suggested as the mother origin of the evolution of all other lemur species.

Despite its adaptation of staying away from the predators to increase its rate of survival, Lemuriods adaptations have not been effective enough to keep it safe from danger. The Lemuriods primate is characterized as the most insecure primate from the predator who is the main human being due to its soft meat. However, despite the still existing danger surrounding Lemuriods, the primate has undergone several locomotive and body structural changes over the years that have helped it enhance its rate of survival. For instance, during the early periods of evolution, the Lemuriods had a structure that was bent with a spine that was horizontal in nature. The primate relied on both hands as well as the feet to walk a condition that was naturally too slow. Since they relied on both hands and feet to walk, Lemuriods could not carry food and escape the predator at the same time. However, due to the desire to survive, centuries later, Lemuriods started standing with their limps to try to reach on the tree branches and access better foods. Due to this frequent habit of standing that was facilitated by the desire for food, the Lemuriods spine became transformed whereby it allowed vertical mobility of the primate. Currently, Lemuriods forms the only primate consisting of a vertebral column that is flexible a condition that makes them flexible in nature. The main paleontologist's reason for the development of flexibility in Lemuriods was due to the competition of food and fear of the predator. Mainly, the Lemuriods were always in danger when in the process of gathering food since they mainly obtained them in the predators' environment. Nevertheless, as a process of adaptation, the Lemuriods developed a straight standing ability that enabled them to run on their hind legs in case of danger. Further, the developed desire by the Lemuriods to jump easily from one branch to another facilitated to development of the ability to use all limbs from locomotion.

Further, based on the fossil records, the Lemuriods were previously characterized by leaping though not very good ones. However, with time, the muscles of the limb weard off at very early stages of their life before adulthood a condition that made the animal very tired from even escaping from the predators. However, due to developed habit of jumping, it led to the development of more strong bone muscle tissues on their hind leg which was about 2.5cm a condition that enhanced their fast running capability while at the same time their hand became more elongated with a measurement of about one and a half meters which facilitated to their easier and fast jumping from one branch to another. While again from the fossils record, it is estimated that about five million years ago the Lemuriods had thicker hands whereby their phalanges were very short about half an inch thus could not carry much food. But, due to their hand stretching during leaping and desire to carry more food, the Lemuriods developed longer phalanges. Currently, Lemuriods are characterized as the primate with the most when folding their hands.

Grade 2 - The Tarsiers

The Tarsier primate consists of small leaping primates that are only found in the various island of Southern Asia as well as in the Philippines. Based on the Fossil record, the first placental mammal Tarsiers evolved about 157 and 163 million years ago during the period which was known as The Jurassic period (Rosenberger et al, 517). However, the Tarsiers primate study of evolution provides very minimal evidence of the primate evolution and change. Centuries back, the Tarsiers were very bright in color thus exposed them vulnerable to the condition that facilitated their frequent hunting by the big snakes and the nocturnal predators. Further, based on the records of fossils, it is evidenced by the presence of a much-stretched body structure whereby the least recording of length being 20cm. This elongated body structure is considered to have made Tarsiers more vulnerable to predators mainly when they were at rest since they could not respond swiftly to elude the attack. Thus, due to the need to protect themselves from frequent attacks from their predators, the Tarsiers started developing a mechanism of folding themselves in order to hide from the predators. Through this adapted process of body folding by the Tarsiers, overtime it resulted in a bent cervical vertebra that became shorter a condition that facilitated to the reduction of the Tarsiers body length to how it is currently which is about 13cm length a condition that makes it hard to be sported by a predator when it hides in a bush.

While, from a fossils study of bones and muscle tissues, it is shown that in the period of Eocene, the Tarsiers were very mobile. However, due to the shortness of tree branches where the Tarsiers swung a lot from tree to tree protecting themselves, the condition facilitated their visibility and attack by the predators. Due to this, the Tarsiers developed a response mechanism of folding their body on the tree thus remaining motionless for a lot of time. Over, centuries these hiding techniques led to the development of more strong-arm muscle by the successive generation of the Tarsiers which enabled them to remain in hiding without getting tired and consequently making the motionless.

Moreover, due to the low sensation nature of the Tarsiers, the primate adapted the mechanism of turning its head at 180c to enable it to see the predator. Further, due to the lower intelligence capacity of the Tarsiers, the primate adopted the mechanism of turning its head completely.

Grade 3 - The monkeys

The monkey primate is believed to have evolved from prosimians during the Oligocene Epoch. Some evidence shows that by 40million years ago the monkeys were present in the new world and the old world (Asia and Africa) (Liedigk & Rasmus, 34). Thus from various anthropologist suggestions, monkeys evolved from the old world and came to the new world through either drifting or through the crossing of land bridges. While to support this belief, other fossils record always refer to Africa as the cradle of monkey evolution as well as their existence. Due to their development and their adaptation in different environments in various ways, monkeys form the most grade of primate featured in the theory of evolution.

First, the monkeys' fossils were discovered first along river Zaire in Congo whereby their survival threats were linked to the chimpanzees who they competed for food. Over time the monkeys are believed to develop strong muscles on their legs which according to some anthropologists were meant to fight the stronger chimpanzee. Over the centuries, the monkey is indicated to have been always at risk from the forest small carnivorous which could move at a high pace. Further, the monkey had a tendency of losing its food to other small animals which mainly stole from the monkey. Thus due to the demand for protecting itself and its food, The monkey developed speed to protect themselves as well as their stash of foods from the forest small carnivorous. Currently, monkeys are one of the fastest animals in the forest more than most of the predators a condition that has been facilitated by the overtime increase of hind muscle length to more than 1 meter.

Further, the general body elongation of monkeys has been established to increase with time. Currently, the body elongation of the monkeys' spine is estimated to have lengthened the primate body to about more than 2 feet. Due to this elongation, the monkey is able to leap for a further distance more than even any other grade of primate. This condition is considered to have developed for more than 2million years ago when the monkey-faced several competitors as well as the inhabitant which were a major threat. Dye to this, the established ability by the monkeys to jump from long branches to another gave the primate an advantage to better and quality food.

Moreover, in the process of desire by the monkeys to support themselves on branches when picking foods at a long distance on the branches, the condition led to the development of the tail. Currently, monkeys possess the most unique tail and quite long and strong compared to that of other primates. The tails have been seen to be used by the monkeys on various occasions not only in leaping but also in protection. Other than holding the monkey when trying to reach the food n higher branches, the tail also acts as a limp enabling the monkey to carry the food using both arms while still switching from one branch to another. Further, over time the monkeys' tail developed a fury head which the monkeys use often to distract the predator when being attacked.

Grade 4 - The Ape and Man

Based on the paleontologists' study the evolution of human beings and apes is believed to have had originated from a common region. From the paleontologists' findings, the evolution human and ape date back in 12 million years ago whereby a common primate divided itself into two branches, one of the branches comprised of the current human species while the other branch comprised of the great ape which encompasses of the gorillas, the bonobos, and the chimpanzees (Langergraber & Kevin, 718). Both the apes and the human body elongated was very short with a much thinner width. The apes walked on four limbs due to their great weight which required a lot of support. Further, the fingers of the apes could not hold anything due to their phalanges that were jointed a condition that facilitated the easy slip of things.

However, due to man's desire to hold equipment and tools facilitated to the differentiation of the mans' evolution to that of apes. Due to the continuous increasing weight of the apes, it led them to develop thicker bodies as well as the muscular tissues. Currently, the ape is the heaviest apes with a mass of over 200kgs. Further, due to increased unbearable weather conditions in their inhabitant, the apes developed thick fur to protect them from colds.

While, on the side of man, the primate started developing an elongated spine since the time of homoerectus. Due to their continuous decries in mass that diminished from 250kgs to 100kgs, human being structure started changing whereby the focus was much concentrated on the feet to hold the reduced mass of the body. Additionally, the human desi...