14. The walking ape

Question 1

Six skeletal differences due to erect posture

Answer 1

1. neck under skull vs behind
• balances head on spine
2. S shaped spine vs arched 
• absorbs shock as feet hit ground
3. pelvis bowl shaped, wide not long and femur angled inwards
• supports abdomen and balance
4. arms shorter than legs
5. heel bones support weight and toes forward
6. arched foot (vs flat to absorb shock)

Question 2

Differences in teeth bw humans and chimps

Answer 2

1. shape of palate - rounded not rectangular
2. size of canines and diastema smaller (gap bw canines and molars)
3. wear on molars

Question 3

Australopithecus Afarensis

Answer 3

• Lucy - 3.5 mya in eastern Africa
• more erect - big toe forward, femur angled inwards
• legs only just longer than arms - suggests still climbed trees well

Question 4

Lucy’s jaw

Answer 4

• canine size intermediate
• diastema small but present
• palate arch partly rounded

Question 5

Lucy’s skull

Answer 5

• ape-like skull
• low forehead
• prominent brow ridges
• projecting face
• cranial capacity

Question 6

What came first, enlargement of brain or upright walking?

Answer 6

Upright walking

Question 7

Homo habilis

Answer 7

≈ 1.4 mya
• larger brain region for speech so maybe language and culture
• stone tools

Question 8

Homo erectus

Answer 8

≈ 0.4mya
•like modern humans but heavier
• tall, built for running
• occipital ridge at rear

Question 9

H. erectus stone culture

Answer 9

• developed in africa after split w. Asian H. erectus
• more elaborate tools
• hand axe found everywhere

Question 10

Why was H. erectus so successful?

Answer 10

• less sexual dimorphism
• less hair on body - wearing of furs
• could adapt to environments fast without evol. change
• acheulean tools - organisation for hunting
• possible control of fire

Question 11

Homo neanderthalensis

Answer 11

• europe western Asia 300,000 yrs ago
• homesites, burial
• coexisted with modern humans for 20,000 years

Question 12

Skull features of neanderthalensis

Answer 12

• modest brow ridge
• no jutting chin
• larger eyes
• brain focus on vision and movement

Question 13

Homo sapiens - skull features

Answer 13

• evolved in africa
• high domes skull and flat face
• rounded back of skull
• jutting chin
• better memory for vocalisation and grammar