THE ANIMAL CLIMAX-THE CHORDATES 



351 



Fig. 13-69. Tarsier {Tarsius tarsler) is a rat-sized hopping primate. Note its tremendous eyes and the padded finger 



tips which aid in grasping twigs. 



large eyes are directed forward and prob- 

 ably permit stereoscopic vision. 



The characteristics of this peculiar little 

 animal place it directly between the mon- 

 keys and lemurs, and this fact has caused 

 zoologists to wonder if it might be the 

 branch from which man sprung. Fossil re- 

 mains indicate that in the Eocene period 

 there were a great many tarsioids, contem- 

 poraries of the lemurs, and it may well be 

 that man descended from this group. 



Anthropoids. The highest group of all 

 primates are the anthropoids, the man-like 

 primates. These include the monkeys, the 

 great apes, and man. While visiting the zoo 

 many will resent the thought that these 

 animals are our closest relatives, but after 

 viewing them for any length of time only 

 the most doubting are unconvinced. It is 



important to point out, however, that man 

 did not descend from monkeys, nor is the 

 monkey a degenerate man. Both had sepa- 

 rate beginnings a long time ago and have 

 been and are traveling along separate paths 

 in their evolution (Fig. 13-67). The mon- 

 key may become more man-like and the 

 opposite may happen, though it is unlikely. 

 But the monkey will never become man as 

 we know him today, any more than the 

 tiger will become a lion or vice versa. 



The monkeys. These creatures, endowed 

 with unlimited curiosity, are man-like both 

 in physical characteristics and in attitudes. 

 They are primarily arboreal, although they 

 are able to get along on the ground. They 

 walk on all fours, but when at rest usually 

 sit down on their haunches, thus freeing 

 their hands for the job of manipulating 



