CB4a Evidence Of Human Evolution Flashcards
Bionomial system (definition)
The system of naming organisms using to latin words
Species (definition)
A group of organisms that can reproduce with eachother to produce off spring that will be able to reproduce
Evolution (definition)
A change in one or more characteristics of a population over a long period of time
Ardi (definition)
The nickname for a 4.4 million year old fossilised specimen of Ardipithecus ramidus that was discovered in Ethiopia
Lucy (definition)
The nickname for the 3.2 million year old fossilised specimen of Australopithecus afarensis
Brain/Skull Volume of Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy)
400cm3
Brain/skull volume of Ardipithercus ramidus
350cm3
Brain/skull volume of Homo habilis
500-600cm3
Brain/skull volume of Homo erectus
850cm3
Brain/skull volume of Homo sapiens
1500cm3/1450cm3
Height of Ardipithecus ramidus
120cm/1.2m
Height of Australopithecus afarensis
107cm/1.07m
Height of Homo habilis
130cm/1.3m
Height of Homo erectus
179cm/1.79m
Height of Homo sapiens
180cm/1.8m
Time period of Ardipithecus ramidus
4.4 million years old
Time period of Australopithecus afarensis
3.9 million to 3.0 million years old
Time period of Homo habilis
2.4 million to 1.4 million years old
Time period of Homo erectus
1.8 million to 0.5 years old
Time period of Homo sapiens
195,000 years ago to present
Features of Ardipithecus ramidus (Ardi)
- Long arms and long, big toes that allowed her to climb trees
- Was able to walk upright
Features of Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy)
- Toe bones arranged in the same way as modern humans. More curved
- was able to walk upright
Features of Homo habilis
- Long arms
- Walked upright
- Fairly short
A 1.6 million year old skeleton was found, providing evidence that humans evolved in…
Africa
Features of Home erectus
- Tall
- Strongly built
How do scientists identify the age of stone tools?
Scientists can work out the ages of different layers of rock therefore, they can assume that the stone tool is about the same age as that layer of rock
Describe how stone tools developed over time
Older stone tools are very simple but would have been helpful for skinning an animal or cutting up meat. As time has progressed tools have become more sophisticated.
Describe how scientists try to show human evolution by placing fossils in order
By arranging fossils in age order, the scientists show how trends between the species have changed over time
Explain why scientists cannot be sure that human-like animals, such as Ardi, evolved into modern humans
Although there are trends within the different species, there are gaps in fossil evidence which means that scientists cannot be certain that the species evolved into eachother
Describe on differnece between Lucy and Ardi
- Different to bones (Lucy more curved)
- Different height
- Different brain volume