If we Evolved from monkeys why are some of them going extinct?

Question

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071026/tts-uk-primates-extinction-e892cc9_2.html

I wondered why there were still monkeys, then wondered why they are going extinct?

Answer 1

You have to think of the future. Chances are that in a few million years we will no longer be "human" so to speak, and the apes of today will have evolved into something else.

Answer 2

We and monkeys evolved from a common ancestor.

The main reason they are going extinct is human activity - mostly destruction of habitat.

Evolution is never "finished". What happens is one species splits into two, after which both may survive; most commonly after a while one will survive and the other won't (they usually compete for the same resources, and the more successful one drives out the weaker) - and that could be what is happening here; or both may go extinct if some external event or new competitor comes in.

I suppose the question is, why WOULDN'T they go extinct?

Answer 3

We didn't evolve from monkeys, we evolved from a type of ape many, many thousands of years ago. It split off into two groups, and no longer exists any more. Those two groups later became Humans, and chimpanzees.

Various species, not just Monkeys, are going extinct. For some, it is because of human interference. Others, natural selection. Animals Naturally go extinct all the time, like the Woolly mammoth. Other things have been brought on by us. Hunting for sport, misunderstanding, tradition.

Rhinos are hunted for sport, and for their ivory, that is why they are severely endangered. Wolves were hunted nearly to extinction because people thought they were evil, and dangerous. And Tigers are still hunted in many areas for "medicinal" properties found in the animal.

Many, many other animals are going extinct for a combination of reasons, including hunting and loss of habitat. The monkeys and apes you are referring too are going extinct primarily for the reasons I just mentioned, Over hunting, and loss of habitat, both caused by human interference.

We did not directly evolve from any animals in existence today, and the common ancestor we share with Chimpanzees, was not the only simian in existence at the time. Other simians evolved into the monkeys and apes we have today.

Answer 4

Firstly we didn't evolve from monkeys, monkeys and us evolved from a common ancestor. Secondly even we did evolve from monkeys, it doesn't necessarily follow that monkeys would no longer exist - Local conditions can differ and therefore organism evolve differently.

What does a future extinction have to do with past evolution? They're unrelated, however, future extinctions will affect future evolution for obvious reasons.

Answer 5

If you would really look at what the Bible is saying you would realize that science and the bible can both be right on this issue and these kinds of questions wouldn't be needed.

The bible you read says God made man in his image. Unfortunately, that is a loose translation of the original Latin bible which said "The Lord made mankind to be like him" Everyone assumes that means in appearance instead of the more obvious things. How often does the bible focus on appearance? It is about the spirit, the soul, the free will...and so is that ever popular quote.

Whatever ancestry we started from doesn't matter. It was just an outward shell that housed the important parts of our humanity.

As for the "monkeys" who are going extinct. They are becoming extinct for the same reasons all animals do, the inability to adapt to environmental changes, being over hunted, and the loss of habitat .

Answer 6

We share a common ancestor with some primates. That does not mean that we evolved from monkies, but it means that they evolved from the same animals as they did. However, we both evolved in different ways. Evolution is based upon the principal that those which have characterists helping it to survive will survive to breed and so pass on their genes. If monkies are dying out, it may be due to 'fitter' organisms taking resources or killing them. However, the probablity is that these superior organisms are humans.

Answer 7

because they didnt evolved into creatures that can survive the modern enviroment. Creatures evolve because of a need; a lack of food, change in weather or increased competition. The monkeys stayed as they are because there was no need to change. Bot now because people are making the earth change so quickly many animals will not be able to evolve quick enough and will die out.

Answer 8

First, we did not evolve from monkeys. We have a common ancestor. Second, a lot of animals are going extinct because we cut their home down for human expansion. Third, pay attention in class.

Answer 9

Apes. We diverged from the ape lineage, not the monkeys. There's a difference.

Your question is contratictory - why are they still around, but why are they going extinct? Not a particularly useful question.

Divergent evolution does not require that one branch of a lineage go extinct while the other survives. I suggest you actually do some research into evolutionary theory.

Answer 10

We didnt really evolve from any existing monkey or ape found at present, all our predecesors died out,... well not really died out but evolved into something better and thus are still around in the form of ourselves... other apes branched out to form other species but ofcourse, like other animals they become extinct either because nature doesnt need them anymore to sustain the ecological balance or because man disrupted their environment devoiding them of their primary needs such as water, food, shelter.. etc.

Answer 11

Well I didn't evolve from a monkey...

I was a genetic experiement by aliens and planted here on earth to see how I would interact with monkeys.

You see, earth is really a giant controlled experiment.

When will you all realize this? Sheesh.