BIO ANTH Lab - Concept Review Questions, Ch. 13-16
What is the genus assigned to the largest primate that ever lived?
'Gigantopithecus'
TRUE/FALSE: Mousterian tools are made from stone flakes that have an elongated, blade-like shape
FALSE
TRUE/FALSE: Relative dating provides more precise age than chronometric dating.
FALSE
TRUE/FALSE: Researchers agree that plesiadapiforms were the first primates.
False
TRUE/FALSE: We know a lot about the brains of our extinct relatives because their brain tissue is regularly preserved through fossilization.
False - brain tissue does NOT fossilize.
TRUE/FALSE: Tool use is unique to members of our own human lineage.
False - tool use is a common behavior of primates in general
Name one species that made Mousterian tools.
Homo heidelbergensis
Which Homo species has the largest average cranial capacity?
Homo neanderthalensis (1520 cc) The average human cranial capacity today = 1400 cc
Describe one trait found in "Aegyptopithecus" that suggests it was an early catarrhine.
Narrow nose
TRUE/FALSE: According to the law of superposition, deeper geological layers are older than layers near the surface.
TRUE
TRUE/FALSE: In a biped, the foramen magnum is positioned more anteriorly at the base of the skull.
TRUE
TRUE/FALSE: Some researchers consider the African members of Homo erectus to be a separate species called Homo ergaster
TRUE
Define Fossils
The remains or traces of an organism preserved in rock.
Describe one physical adaptation Neanderthals had for life in a cold climate.
Wider, larger nose to warm the cold air.
Which one of the following adaptations for bipedalism is NOT known to be present in the available pre-australopithecine fossils? a) S-shaped vertebral column b) anteriorly positioned foramen magnum c) obturator externus muscle groove on femur neck d) short, broad pelvis
a) S-shaped vertebral column
Compared to Neanderthals, early humans had a) a taller cranium & more vertical forehead b) a more limited diet emphasizing large game animals c) more physical adaptations for living in a cold climate d) a more pronounced occipital bun
a) a taller cranium & more vertical forehead
Compared to adapiforms, omomyoids: a) are usually more nocturnal b) have longer snouts c) are usually larger d) have more enclosed bony orbits
a) are usually more nocturnal
The pre-australopithecines lived around: a) 8 mya to 5 mya b) 7 mya to 4.4 mya c) 6 mya to 3 mya d) 9 mya to 6.5 mya
b) 7 mya to 4.4 mya
Which of these species was the first to live outside of Africa? a) Australopithecus garhi b) Homo erectus c) Homo sapiens d) Homo habilis
b) Homo erectus
I lived in Europe around 200 kya. I had a long & low cranium, a large cranial capacity (around 1300 cc), and a very small occipital torus. What fossil species am I? a) Homo neanderthalensis b) Homo erectus c) Homo heidelbergensis d) Homo sapiens
c) Homo heidelbergensis
'Proconsul' lived in Africa around 20 may. It had Y-5 molars & a frugivorous diet. It also had some adaptations for arboreal quadrupedalism and was tailless. What living primate group is its closest living relatives? a) Tarsiers b) Old World monkeys c) Apes d) New World monkeys
c) apes
The kind of bipedalism practiced by a living chimpanzee is called: a) random bipedalism b) habitual bipedalism c) occasional bipedalism d) obligate bipedalism
c) occasional bipedalism
I lived on a small Indonesian island around 18 kya. I used stone tools to hunt animals, but I had a very small cranial capacity (around 400 cc) and a very small body. What fossil species am I? a) Australopithecus afarensis b) Homo erectus c) Homo habilis d) Homo floresiensis
d) Homo floresiensis
I lived in Africa around 15 mya. I had bilophodont molars & a frugivorous diet. I had some adaptations for terrestrial quadrupedalism. What fossil primate am I? a) Aegyptopithecus b) Khoratpithecus c) Dryopithecus d) Victoriapithecus
d) Victoriapithecus
What type of material would you need to conduct radiocarbon dating?
organic material, such as bone, shell, or wood.
