Biology Skull Evolution
What are basic characteristics of Homo sapiens?
"Cro-magnum man" Last hominid in existence Lived in caves Specialized bone and stone tools developed agriculture Omnivores
What are basic characteristics of Kenyanthropus platyops?
"Flat-faced man" 3.5MYA Ate roots and grasses
What are basic characteristics of Homo habilis?
"Handy man" 2.4-1.4MYA First stone tool maker Omnivore
What are basic characteristics of Australopithecus afarensis?
"Lucy" 4-3 MYA Bipedal Strong Vegetarian
What are basic characteristics of Homo neanderthalensis?
"Neanderthal man" 150,000-30,000YA Coexisted with Homo sapiens Larger brain than Homo sapiens Short, muscular, and stocky Wore clothes Buried their dead Skilled hunters Advanced tool use Large nasal cavity
What are basic characteristics of Paranthropus boisei?
"Nutcracker man" 2-1MYA Bipedal Robust Large and strong jaws Omnivores
What are basic characteristics of Australopithecus africanus?
"Taung child" 4-1MYA Bipedal Graceful Vegetarians
What are basic characteristics of Homo erectus?
"Upright man" or "Java man" 1.9MYA-193,000YA Robust Omnivore Used fire and tools Tall
How old are the fossils that DuBois discovered in Java?
0.5-1 million years old
How many different hominid species have been discovered thus far?
15-20
How long did Louis Leaky look for the missing link?
22 years
How old are the rocks in Hadar, Ethiopia? How do we know?
3.5 million years old Radiometric dating
What are basic characteristics of Ardipithecus ramidus ("Ardi")?
4.4 MYA Climbed trees Ate fruit
When did Neanderthal and modern man last share a common ancestor?
500,000 years ago
How long does Dart work on his fossil?
7 weeks
What was found in the limestone quarry in Johannesburg, South Africa?
A fossilized brain and skull
What evidence is there that Homo erectus lived socially?
A repair is seen on a damaged leg fossil. This shows that someone cared for them, otherwise it would've died on its own
On what continent did most hominid evolution take place?
Africa
What location did all hominids originate?
Africa
How does the knee help walking?
Allows you to regularly support weight on one leg at a time (helps with running or walking long distances)
What is meant by "missing link"?
An ape man (step between the two in evolution)
What killed Taung child and how do we know?
An eagle because he was found by egg shells and broken skulls (an eagles nest)
What was discovered one year after the tool-maker?
Another skull that was more human (in same area)
What is a hominid?
Any human-like species, including us Bipedal Intelligent (large brain, use tools)
Why aren't hominids the same as modern apes?
Apes are not bipedal Apes do not have a large brain case Apes don't make tools
What is the widely accepted oldest hominid (nicknamed "Ardy")?
Ardipithecus ramidus
What is the multi-regional continuity theory?
Argues that Homo erectus left Africa and evolved into Homo sapiens in different parts of the world
What species is Lucy?
Australopithecus afarensis
What are the costs of walking?
Back problems Arthritis in hips and knees Collapsed foot arches
How are modern humans more successful than our ancestors?
Better tools and organization, greater population, and artistic expression
What are the earliest defining human traits?
Bipedalism
What other radical changes have occurred in Homo erectus?
Body hair is disappearing and voices developed
What was believed to have driven human evolution?
Brain growth
What is the bony protruding shelf above the eyes?
Brow ridge
What is the name of the longest teeth in a mammals mouth? It is used for holding and tearing food.
Canines
Who believed Africa was the "cradle of humanity" and why?
Charles Darwin because it was the home of the great apes
What is our closest living relative?
Chimpanzees
What are the benefits of eating meat?
Concentrated source of calories, protein, fat, and nutrients Do not usually contain toxic chemicals Quickly digested which saves energy for the brain and other organs
What is the oldest member of Homo sapiens?
Cromagnons
What momentous event occurred in 1859?
Darwin published the "origin of species"
How did diet affect the shape of their bodies?
Digesting plants took a long time and thus a long digestive track. When humans began to eat meat, their digestive track shortened and the gut shrank
Why did brain size increase rapidly between 800,00 and 200,000 years ago?
Dramatic climate change made the brains increase in size so that they could interact with their surroundings and others
Why did brain and body size increase between 2 million and 800,000 years ago?
Early humans spread around the globe, which meant new environments. The challenges they faced and the increase in body size led the brain to increase in size
What are the benefits of walking?
Easier to pick up fruits and food Reach higher Frees hands Humans appear more intimidating Cover more space
What new weapon gave Homo erectus greater power than his ancestors?
Fire
What is the opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes?
Foramen magnum
Why is Neanderthal Man not the missing link?
Fossils are too much like humans (at best, a man with ape-like qualities)
What is the taxon that Homo, Australopithecus, Ardipithecus, and Paranthropus are examples of?
Genus
Where did the discovery of a neanderthal skull occur?
Germany
Why does DuBois' first attempt fail?
He had no experience and he had malaria
What was DuBois response to critics?
He took his fossils and left (wouldn't let anyone observe them)
What are primates that walk upright?
Hominids
What is the only genus of hominids to migrate from Africa?
Homo
What is the most successful member of the genus Homo based on longevity (Java Man was the first example discovered)?
Homo erectus
What species is commonly considered the first species of hominids to make tools?
Homo erectus
What recently discovered species of hominid lived at the same time as sapiens? Nicknamed "the hobbit"
Homo floresiensis
What is the species of hominid (arguably human) that lived concurrently with us for a time? Molecular evidence indicates we could interbreed.
Homo neanderthalensis
What is the most successful hominid based on range and population?
Homo sapiens
How did early humans body shapes differ between climates?
Hot- narrow pelvis, slender body shape to help keep body cool, and long legs Cold- broad body to help retain heat and short legs
Where does DuBois go next?
Java
What species existed at the same time as Australopithecus africanus ("flat faced man")?
Kenyanthropus platyops
How does the video suggest that Neanderthals became extinct?
Killed off by Homo sapiens (replacement theory)
What are the fossilized imprints of Australopithecus afarensis escaping a volcanic eruption called?
Laetoli footprints
What made Piltdown Man so perfect as the missing link?
Large brain with ape characteristics (also, the British founder was in competition with the Germans and this put them ahead)
Who finally found the missing link in 1959?
Leaky's wife
What are the costs of eating meat?
Meat spoils quickly Dangerous competition for meat Risky and less predictable (supply)
What are the most posterior teeth called? They are used for grinding food.
Molars
How does this new skull change the model of humanity?
Multiple lines of descent, not just one to another
Why is Lucy not considered human?
No culture
What is convergent evolution?
Organisms that are not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments
What is questionably the oldest hominid, based on very limited fossil evidence?
Orrorin tugenensis
What is the only species with a sagittal crest?
Paranthropus boisei
How can you tell the difference between a tool and a rock?
Repeatedly striking a rock to produce flakes leaves a distinct pattern of overlapping scars
What are the costs of having a larger brain?
Requires a lot of energy (2% of weight but 20% of oxygen supply and blood flow) Large heads make birth difficult and more painful
What is the name of the bony ridge along the top of the skull to which chewing muscles are attatched?
Sagittal crest
Although the discovery was ape-like, why do they believe it must be the tool maker?
Same geological layer as the tools
What are the next steps in the chain reaction after bipedalism?
Scavenging and hunting
What are the two major changes in the course of human evolution?
Size of brain (small to large) Shape of face (large and sloping to small and vertical)
Where was DuBois looking for fossils and why?
Southeast Asia (Sumatra) because it was home to both apes and men
How is "Lucy" different from apes?
Stands and walks on two legs
What are the benefits of having a larger brain?
Store decades of information Collect information and deliver output in split seconds Solve problems and create abstract ideas and images
What was discovered in London, 1953?
That Piltdown man was a fake (just a few thousand- year-old bones dyed to look old)
What idea died with Piltdown man?
That a big brain was the missing link
What was the world's reaction to DuBois' claims?
That his missing link was too ape-like
What does the long leg bone suggest (in DuBois Java discovery)?
That the animal stood upright like a man
What is then considered the first major innovative change?
The ability to walk on two legs (frees hands)
Why was Dart rejected?
The brain was too small and the teeth were big (went against common belief that brain evolved first)
What is the discovery made in August, 1856?
The discovery of a neanderthal skull
What was the advantage of the anatomical change that occurred between chimp and human?
The hip muscles could provide support for walking
What makes "Lucy" such an extraordinary find?
The oldest ancestor and was found all together (basically full skeleton)
What is the replacement model theory?
The origin of humans is in Africa. Our ancestors spread out from there and replaced other species.
What is the prognathism?
The snout or muzzle
What is paleoanthropology?
The study of human evolution
When the DNA of modern man and Neanderthal man are compared, what was discovered?
They are completely different
How did tools change throughout the course of hominid evolution?
They became more specialized for tasks
How does the skeleton change over time to support walking?
Thigh bone forms a strong bond with the hip Knee bone helps with stress put on legs Leg bones are longer Lower back is curved
What became the new theory after the big brain was dismissed?
Tools were the missing link
What does Homo erectus mean?
Upright walking man
What events happened during the extreme climate changes that spurred human evolution?
Walk upright (6-4 million years ago) Make tools (2.8-2.3 million years ago) Brain size increase (800,000-200,000 years ago) Communication with symbols (350,000-100,000 years ago)
When does evolution occur?
When there is a change in genetic material
What is the name for the cheekbone structure?
Zygomatic arch
