The Rise of Primates and Apes

What happened

With the dinosaurs gone, mammals diversified explosively in the 'Age of Mammals.' Among them were the primates. The last common ancestor of monkeys and apes lived around 25 million years ago; humans belong to the ape branch of this family tree.

Why it matters

The primate lineage — with grasping hands, forward-facing eyes, and large brains — set the stage for the eventual evolution of humans.

Sources

• Smithsonian Human Origins Program. Introduction to Human Evolution · Reputable source