Question 1

The early ancestors of the modern tarsiers and maybe the anthropoids as well are probably the

Accepted Answer

Tarsiers and anthropoids are both primates, and their early ancestors are believed to be the Omomyidae family, which lived during the Eocene epoch. The Adapidae family were also early primates, but they are believed to have given rise to lemurs and lorises, not tarsiers or anthropoids. Plesiadapiformes were non-primate mammals that lived during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs. Hominidae is the family of great apes and humans, which evolved much later than tarsiers and anthropoids.

Question 2

The site called the Fayum,in Egypt,has yielded primate fossils from which of the following dates?

Accepted Answer

The Fayum site in Egypt has yielded primate fossils from 40-25 million years ago, during the Eocene epoch.

Question 3

The early primates known as the Adapidae are thought to be ancestral to

Accepted Answer

Adapidae are believed to be ancestral to lemurs and lorises, while tarsiers, monkeys, and apes/hominids are thought to have evolved from a different group of early primates called Omomyidae.

Question 4

Which is the best explanation for the origin of the New World monkeys?

Accepted Answer

The theory of "rafting" proposes that a group of primates somehow crossed the Atlantic from Africa to South America on floating vegetation or debris, and then diversified to give rise to the New World monkeys. This theory is supported by genetic evidence and the fact that there is a gap in the fossil record between the last known Old World monkey and the earliest New World monkey.

Question 5

The earliest primate like fossils date to

Accepted Answer

The earliest primate-like fossils date to a period prior to 65 million years ago, indicating that the origins of primates trace back to at least the late Cretaceous period, just before the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. This timing suggests that primates were among the groups of mammals that began to diversify significantly after the extinction event.

Question 6

The site called the Fayum,in Egypt,has yielded primate fossils of which general category?

Accepted Answer

The Fayum site in Egypt has yielded fossils of monkeylike primates, such as Aegyptopithecus and Apidium.

Question 7

Aegyptopithecus is probably ancestral to

Accepted Answer

Aegyptopithecus is believed to be ancestral to the Old World anthropoid primates, which include apes, monkeys, and humans.

Question 8

Which dental trait is a characteristic of only apes and hominids?

Accepted Answer

The Y-5 cusp pattern is a characteristic only found in apes and hominids, and not in other primates. The other dental traits listed (smaller number of teeth than New World primates, large molars, long, pointy canine teeth) are found in various primate groups, not just apes and hominids.

Question 9

The Eosimiidae may be ancestral to

Accepted Answer

Eosimiidae is considered a potential ancestral group to anthropoids (primates including monkeys, apes, and humans) based on their dental and skeletal characteristics. There is still debate and uncertainty about the exact evolutionary relationships between eosimiids and anthropoids, but current evidence suggests a possible link between the two groups. The other options listed (Adapidae, Omomyidae, lemurs, and lorises) are not directly related to eosimiids or anthropoids, although they all represent different primate groups.

Question 10

The fossil ape genus that is thought by some to be ancestral to modern orangutans is

Accepted Answer

Sivapithecus is believed to be an ancestor to modern orangutans based on similarities in dental and cranial morphology. Gigantopithecus is a separate genus that is believed to be more closely related to modern gorillas and not ancestral to orangutans. Ouranopithecus and Aegyptopithecus are both extinct apes, but are not thought to be ancestral to orangutans.

Question 11

The earliest ape fossils are classified as apes mostly because of their

Accepted Answer

The earliest ape fossils are classified as apes mostly because of their teeth, which show adaptations for a primarily fruit-based diet and a larger braincase compared to earlier primates.

Question 12

As the anthropoid primates expanded their range and evolved,they

Accepted Answer

As anthropoid primates expanded their range and evolved, they pushed the prosimians into marginal areas. This allowed both groups to coexist without wiping out one another, as the prosimians were able to survive in the areas that the anthropoids did not occupy.

Question 13

The first undisputed primate fossils date to

Accepted Answer

The first undisputed primate fossils date to around 55 million years ago, during the Eocene Epoch. While there are possible primate fossils from 65 million years ago, they are not universally accepted as belonging to the primate order. Fossil evidence of hominins, a subgroup of primates that includes humans, date back to around 6-7 million years ago, and anatomically modern humans have been present for around 250,000 years.

Question 14

Much of our knowledge of the evolution of the Old World monkeys comes from a single site in

Accepted Answer

The majority of our understanding of Old World monkey evolution comes from fossil discoveries at the Fayum Depression in Egypt.

Question 15

The first undisputed primate fossils were found in what is now

Accepted Answer

The first undisputed primate fossils were found in Europe and North America, dating back to the Paleocene epoch, around 55-65 million years ago. This discovery supports the theory that primates originated in or near these regions before spreading to other parts of the world.

Question 16

The early primates known as the Omomyidae may be ancestral to

Accepted Answer

Omomyidae are considered to be more closely related to tarsiers and possibly anthropoids, based on dental and cranial similarities.

Question 17

The earliest primate like fossils were found in what is now

Accepted Answer

The earliest primate-like fossils, known as Plesiadapiformes, were found in North America, dating back to the Paleocene epoch.

Question 18

The early ancestors of the modern prosimian lemurs and lorises are probably the

Accepted Answer

Adapidae are considered to be the early ancestors of modern prosimian lemurs and lorises, as they share several anatomical features with these groups.

Question 19

Apes appear in the fossil record

Accepted Answer

Apes first appear in the fossil record approximately 23 million years ago during the Miocene epoch.

Question 20

The earliest probable ancestor of all modern anthropoid primates is

Accepted Answer

Aegyptopithecus is believed to be the earliest probable ancestor of all modern anthropoid primates based on fossil evidence. Omomyidae and Adaptidae are early primate groups but are not considered direct ancestors of modern anthropoids. Prosimii is a separate group of primates that includes lemurs and lorises and is not directly related to anthropoids.

Quiz 10: Evolution of the Early Hominids