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Primate Origins: Adaptations and Evolution

  • Book
  • © 2007

Overview

Editors:
  1. Matthew J. Ravosa

    1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA

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  2. Marian Dagosto

    1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Broadest possible perspective on early primate phylogeny and the adaptive uniqueness of the Order Primates

Part of the book series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects (DIPR)

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Table of contents (23 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxx
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Supraordinal Relationships of Primates and Their Time of Origin

    1. A Molecular Classification for the Living Orders of Placental Mammals and the Phylogenetic Placement of Primates

      • M. S. Springer, W. J. Murphy, E. Eizirik, O. Madsen, M. Scally, C. J. Douady et al.
      Pages 1-28

    2. New Light on the Dates of Primate Origins and Divergence

      • C. Soligo, O. A. Will, S. Tavaré, C. R. Marshall, R. D. Martin
      Pages 29-49

    3. The Postcranial Morphology of Ptilocercus lowii (Scandentia, Tupaiidae) and its Implications for Primate Supraordinal Relationships

      • E. J. Sargis
      Pages 51-82

    4. Primate Origins: A Reappraisal of Historical Data Favoring Tupaiid Affinities

      • M. Godinot
      Pages 83-142

    5. Primate Taxonomy, Plesiadapiforms, and Approaches to Primate Origins

      • M. T. Silcox
      Pages 143-178

  3. Adaptations and Evolution of the Cranium

    1. Jaw-Muscle Function and the Origin of Primates

      • C. J. Vinyard, M. J. Ravosa, S. H. Williams, C. E. Wall, K. R. Johnson, W. L. Hylander
      Pages 179-231

    2. Were Basal Primates Nocturnal? Evidence From Eye and Orbit Shape

      • C. F. Ross, M. I. Hall, C. P. Heesy
      Pages 233-256

    3. Oculomotor Stability and the Functions of the Postorbital Bar and Septum

      • C. P. Heesy, C. F. Ross, B. Demes
      Pages 257-283

    4. Primate Origins and the Function of the Circumorbital Region: What's Load Got to Do with It?

      • M. J. Ravosa, D. G. Savakova, K. R. Johnson, W. L. Hylander
      Pages 285-328

  4. Adaptations and Evolution of the Postcranium

    1. Origins of Grasping and Locomotor Adaptations in Primates: Comparative and Experimental Approaches Using an Opossum Model

      • P. Lemelin, D. Schmitt
      Pages 329-380

    2. Evolvability, Limb Morphology, and Primate Origins

      • M. W. Hamrick
      Pages 381-401

    3. Primate Gaits and Primate Origins

      • M. Cartmill, P. Lemelin, D. Schmitt
      Pages 403-435

    4. Morphological Correlates of Forelimb Protraction in Quadrupedal Primates

      • S. G. Larson
      Pages 437-456

    5. Ancestral Locomotor Modes, Placental Mammals, and the Origin of Euprimates: Lessons From History

      • F. S. Szalay
      Pages 457-487

    6. The Postcranial Morphotype of Primates

      • M. Dagosto
      Pages 489-534

    7. New Skeletons of Paleocene-Eocene Plesiadapiformes: A Diversity of Arboreal Positional Behaviors in Early Primates

      • J. I. Bloch, D. M. Boyer
      Pages 535-581

  5. Adaptations and Evolution of the Brain, Behavior, Physiology, and Ecology

    1. Start Small and Live Slow: Encephalization, Body Size, and Life History Strategies in Primate Origins and Evolution

      • B. T. Shea
      Pages 583-623

    2. Evolutionary Specializations of Primate Brain Systems

      • T. M. Preuss
      Pages 625-675

    3. New Views on the Origin of Primate Social Organization

      • A. E. Müller, C. Soligo, U. Thalmann
      Pages 677-701
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Keywords

About this book

This book updates, summarizes and synthesizes past and current research regarding the origin of the Order Primates. When did Primates arise? To what group of mammals are they most closely related? What is the functional and adaptive meaning of their constellation of derived characteristics? The papers in this volume examine hypotheses that have dominated our notions regarding early primate evolution and by coupling this with an emergent body of novel evidence due to new fossil discoveries and technological and methodological advances, provide a long overdue multidisciplinary reanalysis of the suite of derived life history, socioecological, neural, visual, circumorbital, locomotor, postural and masticatory specializations of the first primates. This integrative neontological and paleontological perspective is critical for understanding major behavioral and morphological transformations during the later evolution of higher primate clades. Primate Origins: Adaptations and Evolution is ideal for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professionals in the fields of primatology, anthropology, mammalogy, and paleontology.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"The outgrowth of a conference on the adaptive/phylogenetic aspects of the group’s origin, this book includes 23 chapters in four sections. … Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers." (E. Delson, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (2), 2007)

"Primate Origins is a weighty tome, both literally and figuratively. … The book derives from an international symposium on primate origins … . Space prohibits me from elaborating further upon the numerous merits of this fine volume. It would make an excellent foundation for graduate-level seminars on primate origins. All 1.3 kg of it deserves to be read and pondered by serious students of primate evolution." (Chris Beard, International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 28, 2007)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA

    Matthew J. Ravosa, Marian Dagosto

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