This document discusses human evolution and classification. It explains that Charles Darwin proposed that humans and apes shared a common ancestor, though he lacked evidence. It then classifies humans in the taxonomic hierarchy and describes the key characteristics of chordates, mammals, primates, hominids, and humans. These include traits like hair, mammary glands, brain size, bipedalism, and others that distinguish humans from other species.

1. Human Evolution
Mrs. Nelson

2. Background Information…
What does evolution mean?
- “change”
Who was Charles Darwin?
-evolution and natural selection
What did Charles Darwin say about human
evolution?
-Humans and apes shared a common ancestor
-Problem was he had no evidence to support this
idea

3. Classification of Humans
KINGDOM 
PHYLUM 
CLASS 
ORDER 
FAMILY 
GENUS 
SPECIES 
Animal
Chordate
Mammal
Primate
Hominid
Homo
sapien

4. What makes us animals?
Eukaryotic
No cell walls (cell membranes)
Multicellular
Heterotrophic

5. What makes us chordates?
All chordates are animals with…
1. Flexible “rod”called notochord along back
below nerve cord (replaced by backbone in
vertebrates)
2. Dorsal, hallow nerve cord
3. Pharyngeal slits (primitive gill slits)
4. Tail at some point in life.

6. These are not chordates!

7. These ARE chordates!

8. What makes us mammals?
All mammals are chordates with…
1. Hair or fur
2. Mammary glands – feed young milk
3. Four chambered heart
4. Internal body temperature regulation
(Endothermic)
5. Lungs

9. Mammals

10. Three groups of mammals?
1. Monotremes – Egg laying mammals.
Ex.) platypus
2. Marsupials – Pouched animals Ex.) Kangaroo
3. Placentals – Nutrients are passed to baby via the
placenta

11. What makes us primates?
Mammals
Well developed brain
Binocular vision- ability to merge visual
images seen from both eyes (3-D or depth)
Grasping hands and feet due to presence of
5 flexible digits and opposable thumb
Rotating shoulder joints

12. 2 Groups Primates
Prosimians
ex) lemur
Nocturnal
Large eyes

13. 2 Groups Primates cont.
Anthropoids
ex) monkeys, apes, humans
Day-active (diurnal)
Smaller eyes
Development color vision
This group split into two major groups
when continents split

14. Anthropoid Branches
New World Monkeys
Found Central/South
America
Tree dwellers
Prehensile tail-
grasping equal to a 5th
hand
Ex) spider monkey

15. Anthropoid Branches cont.
Old World Monkeys
Found Africa/Asia
Do NOT have
prehensile tails
Ex) baboon

16. Anthropoid Branches cont.
Great Apes are
included in the Old
World Monkeys
Also called hominoids
Lack tails
Ex) gibbon,
orangutan, gorilla,
chimpanzee, humans

17. What is a hominid?
Scientists believe that 5 mya hominoid line gave
rise to the earliest hominids
Family includes humans and their closest
ancestors
“Humans share a common ancestor with apes”
Closest relative is the chimpanzee (98% identical
DNA)
Thus, apes (not even the chimp) is our direct
ancestor

18. What are Hominids?
Bipedal- walk upright on two legs
(due to locking knee joint and position of
spine entry to skull)
Increased brain size
Jaw arc-shaped, no space between incisors
and canines, short canines

19. Human Evolution-Where are We?
Primates
Prosimians Anthropoids
New World Monkeys Old World Monkeys
Hominoids
Hominids

21. Human and Ape Skeletal
Differences
Spine shape.
Entry of spine into skull
Teeth
Brain cavity size
Feet (great toe)
Locking knee joints
Arm and leg length
Angle of femur
Pelvis shape

22. Charles Darwin’s Theory…

23. Classification of Humans
Human Chimp Pig Goldfish Jellyfish
Kingdom Animal Animal Animal Animal Animal
Phylum Chordate Chordate Chordate Chordate X
Class Mammal Mammal Mammal X X
Order Primate Primate X X X
Family Hominid X X X x
Genus Homo X X X X
Species Sapien X X X x