Anthropology

What key adaptations do humans share with other primates How do humans differ from other primates

Today, anthropologists recognize that both humans and apes display advanced evolutionary features, and differ equally (but in separate ways) from their common ancestor (Lewin 10). In order to further explore this idea, it will be necessary to enumerate the similarities and differences, in terms of evolutionary adaptation features, of primates and humans. First, both primates and humans (Homo sapiens) are able to thrive in a variety of tropical environments but only humans are capable of living in wide geographical areas and in tolerating extreme weather and environmental conditions (Lewin 60). Next, both humans and primates possess a pair of hands with fingers that has the ability to grasp but regarding the function of the feet, only primates has retained the grasping characteristic of their feet while humans use their feet for upright walking. Lastly, both humans and primates possess a well-developed eyesight which is correlated with the acquisition of larger brains as compared with other mammalian orders.

By analysis, it can be said that humans and primates share a number of key adaptive features but three features place humans above all the other mammalian species and these are the following great intelligence, habitual upright walking, and a more complex form of group-oriented organization and behavior (Lewin 61). In general, these adaptive features have enabled both humans and primates to survive evolutionary challenges but the uniqueness of each accounts for the preservation of primate and human lineage.