Final answer:
During the Cenozoic Era, primates developed increased brain size, larger eyes, and smaller muzzles, with a shift from olfaction to vision. These adaptations occurred alongside the diversification of flowering plants, which provided new food sources and shaped primate evolution. Comparative studies of primates have contributed significantly to our understanding of human behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Traits Developed by Primates in the Cenozoic Era
During the Cenozoic Era, primates developed several distinctive traits that contributed to their evolution. Among these were increases in brain size, particularly the frontal lobes, which are associated with advanced cognitive functions. Primates also developed larger eyes and smaller muzzles, indicating a shift away from olfaction towards reliance on vision. The end of the Eocene epoch saw the extinction of many early prosimian species, likely due to cooler temperatures and competition from emergent monkey species.
Evidence from the angiosperm theory suggests these evolutionary changes coalesced with the diversification of flowering plants, providing a variety of new food sources such as nectar, fruits, and seeds. Physical adaptations such as the development of forward-facing eyes and the increased dexterity of hands facilitated the exploitation of these resources in arboreal habitats.
In terms of classification, the order of Primates is divided into two suborders: Strepsirrhini (prosimians) and Haplorrhini (tarsiers and anthropoids). Comparative primatology has played a crucial role in understanding these evolutionary paths and provided insights into the unique aspects of human behavior through the study of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.