MyMapPrimate Phylogenetic Tree
A phylogenetic tree showing the evolutionary divergence of primates from prosimians through monkeys and great apes to Homo sapiens, with estimated divergence dates at each branching point.
Preview
“Create a phylogenetic tree of primates showing evolutionary divergence”
About the framework
Applying Phylogenetic Trees to Primate Evolution
This template applies the phylogenetic tree framework to the primate order — one of the most widely studied clades in biology and a staple of evolution curricula from AP Biology through university zoology. The branching diagram makes divergence events visual: each diamond node represents a speciation event with an approximate date, and each branch leads to a surviving lineage.
The tree reads left to right chronologically. The primate ancestor (~60 MYA) splits first into prosimians and anthropoids, then anthropoids diverge into New World and Old World monkeys (~40 MYA and ~25 MYA respectively), and finally the hominid split separates great apes from the lineage leading to Homo sapiens (~6 MYA). This structure makes it immediately clear that humans are not descended from modern apes — rather, both share a common ancestor.
Customize this for different taxa: ask the AI to generate a phylogenetic tree for vertebrates, flowering plants, or bacteria. You can also add more detail to the primate tree by including gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees as separate branches.
What's included
What you get
- Branching tree diagram with 10 nodes showing primate evolution
- Divergence dates: ~60 MYA prosimians, ~40 MYA New World monkeys, ~25 MYA Old World monkeys
- Great apes and Homo sapiens split at ~6 MYA
- Diamond decision nodes mark each divergence point
- Color-coded: green ancestor, blue branches, purple hominids, orange dates
Primate Phylogenetic Tree
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Can I add more primate species to the tree?
Yes. Ask the AI to 'Add branches for gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos with their divergence dates.' It will expand the hominid section into a detailed cladogram.
Can I create a phylogenetic tree for a different group?
Absolutely. Ask the AI to 'Create a phylogenetic tree for vertebrates showing fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals' or any other taxonomic group. The branching structure adapts to any clade.
How do I add molecular evidence to the tree?
Ask the AI: 'Add DNA sequence similarity percentages at each branch point.' It will annotate the tree with molecular clock data like the 98.7% human-chimpanzee DNA similarity.
Primate Phylogenetic Tree
Free to start. No credit card required.