Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • Classroom Resources
  • Teaching Tools
  • Professional Development
  • Partner Content

Your Inner Monkey

Play Video
Photo of Neil Shubin with a monkey on his shoulder

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Skin & Musculoskeletal System
  • Evolution
  • Paleobiology
  • Human Evolution

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Feature Films

Level

Middle/Junior HighHigh School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
19 Users
Share This

Description

This film explores what human hands, vision, and brains reveal about our evolution from ancient primate ancestors.

Our primate progenitors had bodies a lot like those of modern monkeys and spent tens of millions of years living in trees. From them we inherited our versatile hands, amazing vision, and capable brains—but also some less beneficial traits, including our bad backs and terrible sense of smell.

This film is the third episode in Your Inner Fish, a series that originally aired on PBS and is hosted by anatomist and paleontologist Neil Shubin. Shubin journeys to meet our ancient animal ancestors while revealing the impact those animals have had on our bodies. Due to international distribution restrictions, the series can be streamed only in the United States and Canada.

Key Terms

amphioxus, Ardi, Ardipithecus ramidus, Australopithecus afarensis, bipedalism, color vision, evolutionary transition, fossil, hominin, Lucy

Primary Literature

Shubin, Neil. Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-billion-year History of the Human Body. New York: Vintage Books, 2009.

 

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Version History

Date Published 06.30.15

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A, HS-LS1.B, HS-LS3.A, HS-LS3.B, HS-LS4.A, HS-LS4.C

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-3

IB Biology (2016)

5.1, 5.3, 10.3

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2

Materials

Download Transcript (PDF) 132 KB

Use This Resource With

Activity Resource
Activity for Your Inner Fish
Interactive Media Resource
Interactive Video Builder

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator standing in front of a movie still.
/
1-Minute Tips

Your Inner Fish and Origin of Tetrapods

Chi Klein describes how she uses both the "Your Inner Fish" film series and the "Origin of Tetrapods" short film in her classroom. These films are accompanied by a wealth of additional educational materials about the evolutionary origins of the anatomical features found in animals today.
View Article
Close Modal

Explore Related Content

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Computer image of Tiktaalik from the video
Film Activities
Activity for Your Inner Fish
Image of a human precursor fossil from the film
Short Films
Great Transitions: The Origin of Humans
Image of the Ardi fossil from the film
Film Activities
Activity for The Origin of Humans
Photo comparing types of teeth from the activity
Click & Learn
Human Origins
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Skeletons Reveal Human and Chimpanzee Evolution
Image of a human skeleton from the interactive
Click & Learn
Explore Your Inner Animals
Photo of the head of the Tiktaalik fossil
Short Films
Great Transitions: The Origin of Tetrapods
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Origin of Humans
Photo of a hawk from the video
Film Activities
Activity for The Origin of Birds
Image of a bird from the film
Short Films
Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds
HHMI BioInteractive
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Advisors
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility