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ATAR human bio 12 > 19. Human ancestors > Flashcards

19. Human ancestors Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

why was upright locomotion first developed?

A

to travel between gaps in forest across open ground
5-6mill years ago temperatures fell and forests decreased in size, increasing open grassland
- natural selection favoured apes better at bipedal walking with more erect stance

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2
Q

Advantages of bipedalism?

A
  • increased range of vision to detect prey and predators at a greater distance
  • increased size to deter predators
  • hands free for carrying food and later for tool use
  • higher reach when picking fruit from trees
  • improved cooling of the body as it has less sun exposure and there is more wind to cool the body in high temps
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3
Q

What was Australopithecus Afarensis’ name and date of living?

A

Lucy

2.5-4 million years ago

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4
Q

What was Australopithecus Afarensis diet and environment like?

A

herbivorous diet of nuts, fruits and seed
tough food
East Africa, most likely woodland environment

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5
Q

Height of Australopithecus Afarensis:

A

1.1 metres

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6
Q

Skull of Australopithecus afarensis

A

400cm3 brain capacity, apelike features, low forehead, sagittal crest
Skull more rounded at the back

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7
Q

Dentition/prognathism of Australopithecus afarensis

A

Prognathic jaw, small canines and diastema, large molars, thick enamel, no chin
parabolic shaped teeth

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8
Q

body of Australopithecus afarensis

A 
pelvis is short and broad
carrying angle for hip and knee joint
fully bipedal
large iliac-crest - not adapted to running
S-shaped vertebral column
enlarged big toe
curved toes and fingers for grasping
roust and strong muscles
foramen magnum halfway between ape and man
foot has non-opposable big toe
sexual dimorphism
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9
Q

tools of australopithecus afarensis

A

no tool making, possibly use of unmodified stick and stones as weapons

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10
Q

culture of australopithecus afarensis

A

no language, small family groups with a home base

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11
Q

name and date of Australopithecus africanus

A

Mrs Ples or Taung Child

2-3 million years ago, not direct ancestor of man

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12
Q

What was Australopithecus africanus diet and environment like?

A

omnivorous, scavanger of meat

southern/east africa and open savannah

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13
Q

Height of Australopithecus africanus:

A

1.2m

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14
Q

Skull of Australopithecus africanus

A

450cm3, smooth rounded cranium with reduced brow ridges

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15
Q

Dentition/prognathism of Australopithecus africanus

A

large prognathic jaw, large molars, rare diastema

Large canines but smaller than afarensis

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16
Q

body of Australopithecus africanus

A 
pelvis is short and broad
angles at hip and knee joints
fully bipedal
long arms
foramen magnum not quite central
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17
Q

tools of australopithecus africanus

A

no tool making

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18
Q

culture of australopithecus africanus

A

females tended to settle further from region of birth than males
distinct family groups

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19
Q

name and date of Paranthropus robustus

A

“nutcracker man” not direct ancestor of man

1-2.1mill years ago

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20
Q

diet and environment of Paranthropus robustus

A

Omnivorous (insects, roots, tubers, fruit, leaves, scavanged meat)
Southern and east africa, open Savannah and grassland

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21
Q

height of Paranthropus robustus

A

1.5 m

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22
Q

skull of Paranthropus robustus

A

530cm3 heavy brow ridges, flat forehead, broad face

large zygomatic arch

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23
Q

dentition/prognathism of Paranthropus robustus

A

large and robust jaw and teeth
large prognathic jaw with large molars and sagittal crest
large jaw muscles

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24
Q

body of Paranthropus robustus

A 
short and broad pelvis
angles at knee and hip joint
fully bipedal
small body
strongly built
foramen magnum centre of base of skull
arms long compared to legs
25
Q

tools used by Paranthropus robustus:

A

no tool making, use of bones to crush tuber or dig out termite mounds
no modifications

26
Q

culture of Paranthropus robustus

A

lived in social groups with a dominant male and several females

27
Q

name and date of Homo habillis

A

“Handy Man”

1.6-2.4 million years ago

28
Q

Diet and environment of Homo habillis

A

first scavengers of meat, gathering of vegetable matter

grasslnd habitat in East Africa

29
Q

height of Homo habillis

A

1.3m

30
Q

skull of Homo habillis

A

650cm3 more rounded cranium
speech area of the brain enlarged
small brow ridges

31
Q

dentition/prognathism of homo habillis

A 
prognathic jaw 
small canines and a diastema
large molars
thick enamel
no chin
parabolic shaped teeth
32
Q

body of Homo habillis

A 
stood more erect 
fully bipedal
modern pelvis
long arms
long straight fingers
mobile thumbs
large fingertips
33
Q

tools used by Homo habillis

A

first evidence of tool making - Oldowan pebble tools for butchering (not hunting)

34
Q

culture of Homo habillis

A
  • temporary living sites, scavenging, trees for sleep
35
Q

name and date of Homo erectus

A

“Java man”

100 000- 1 million years ago

36
Q

Diet and environment of Homo erectus

A

small amounts of tough meat, root vegetables
hunted
first to move out of Africa - into Asia and Indonesia, possibly Europe

37
Q

height of Homo erectus

A

1.6 m

38
Q

skull of Homo erectus

A

1000cm3 (enlargement due to more meat and protein in diet)
flat skull
increased language areas and frontal lobe
pronounced brow ridges

39
Q

dentition/prognathism of Homo erectus

A 
less prognathic jaw
hint of chin
smaller teeth
reduction in zygomatic arch
protruding nasal bone
large molars and rounded jaw
40
Q

body of Homo erectus

A

upright modern stance, stocky and strong

hands more robust

41
Q

tools used by Homo erectus

A

Acheulian (hand-axe) tools, percussion flaking, bifacial, flint, specialisation of tools

42
Q

culture of Homo erectus

A

language for communication and hunting
cooperation
migration out of Africa (gradual, following herds) use of fire for warmth/cooking/ protection/ hunting/ toolmaking, huts, caves, clothing

43
Q

name and date of Homo Neanderthalensis

A

“Neanderthal man” ancestors of homo but went extinct

28 000- 300 000 years ago

44
Q

Diet and environment of Homo Neanderthalensis

A

lots of meat in diet
hunted big game
still omnivorous and had vegetation
Colder climates of Southern Europe and Western Asia

45
Q

height of Homo Neanderthalensis

A

1.7m

46
Q

skull of Homo Neanderthalensis

A

1450cm3 brow ver large
low flattened skull with an occipital (bun)
frontal lobe very small
different shape of brain, additional capacity required for additional muscles

47
Q

dentition/prognathism of Homo Neanderthalensis

A 
prominent nasal bone (wider and larger than modern human- adaptation for life in seasonally cold and dry climates)
braod chin that lacked shape
small teeth
less prognathic jaw
cheeks streamlines
48
Q

body of Homo Neanderthalensis

A 
wider pelvis
barrel chested
robust and stocky
larger and more muscular than modern man
limbs short and heavily jointed
thick neck muscles
49
Q

tools used by Homo neanderthalnesis

A

Mousterian (used flakes) and traded tools

50
Q

culture of Homo neanderthalensis

A

clothes, burials, religious beliefs, lived in caves, used fire and ochre, painted, cared for sick, food preservation, belief in life after death, cannibals, hearths, built stone walls at cave entrances

51
Q

name and date of Homo sapien

A

“Cro-Magnon man”

160 000 to present

52
Q

Diet and environment of Homo sapien

A

Southern Africa, middle east, asia

Hunter-gatherer

53
Q

height of Homo sapien

A

1.6-1.85m

54
Q

skull of homo sapien

A

1350cm3

Vertical forehead, large frontal lobe

55
Q

dentition/prognathism of Homo sapien

A

no prognathism, small teeth, chin present, nasal bones protruding

56
Q

Body of Homo sapien

A

wide pelvis, birth of large brain infants (early birth so no longer parental care) deeper bowl shape

57
Q

Tools used by Homo sapiens

A

Aurignacian blade tools, more sophisticated, retouching of edges, use of bone/antler/burin/microliths

58
Q

culture of Homo sapiens

A

co-operative hunting, nomadic, domesticated plants and animals and relied on vegetation
use of food pits, cave art, portable art, imagination, permenant dwellings

ATAR human bio 12 (19 decks)

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