Early Hominins

Question 1

Sehelanthropus

Answer 1

• 7 myo
• Chad, Central Africa
• Foramen magnum located further forward than in apes
  Human-like canines (smaller than apes)

Question 2

Orrorin

Answer 2

• 6 myo
• Kenya
• Femur has long neck (suggesting bipedalism)
  Long, curved finger bones and canines/premolars
  resemble those of apes.

Question 3

Ardipithecus (“Ardi”)

Answer 3

• ~4.5 to ~5.5 myo
• Ethiopia
• Opposable toe (indicates bipedal on ground,
  quadrupedal in trees)
  Hands adapted for arboreal life
  Reduced canines
  Small brain

Question 4

Australopithecus afarensis (“Lucy”)

Answer 4

• 4 - 2.5 myo
• Afar region of Ethiopia
• Small canines, enlarged molars
  Pelvis and vertebral column suit up-right posture and
  bipedalism.

Question 5

Australopithecus africanus

Answer 5

• 3 - 2.5 myo
• Southern Africa
• Larger molars than Lucy
  Now considered to be on side line to humans

Question 6

Australopithecus sediba

Answer 6

• 2 myo
• Malapa Cave, South Africa
• Most complete Australopithecine found (mother + child)

Question 7

Paranthropus robustus

Answer 7

• 2 - 1 myo
• Southern Africa
• Great enlargement of face, jaws and teeth
  Moderate sexual dimorphism
  (Probably NOT ancestral to humans)

Question 8

Paranthropus boisei

Answer 8

• 2.6 - 1.2 myo
• East Africa
• Great enlargement of face, jaws and teeth
  Moderate sexual dimorphism
  (Probably NOT ancestral to humans)

Question 9

Defining characteristics of Hominins

Answer 9

• Locomotion (Trend towards bipedalism)
• Dentition (Parabolic dental arcade, reduced canines and incisors, loss of diastema, large posterior grinding teeth, orthognathic jaws not prognathic)
• Increases intelligence (changes in absolute brain size, brain structure and organisation)