Exam #3 ANTHROPOLOGY

Question 1

What is Homology?

Answer 1

When traits are passed down from a common ancestor to two or more groups of organisms- an example would be the lack of a tail in humans and apes

Question 2

What is analogy

Answer 2

A trait that is evolved as a result of similar evolutionary pressures, no common ancestor. - an example would be a bird’s wing and a bat’s wing

Question 3

What did Darwin mean when he defined evolution as, “Descent with modification?”

Answer 3

all species descended from only a few lifeforms that had been modified over time

Question 4

What is an Ancestral trait?

Answer 4

an ancestral trait is a trait that has changed little during descent from an ancestor. - an example: presence of a tail in monkeys

Question 5

What is a Derived Trait?

Answer 5

a derived trait is a trait that has undergone extreme change during descent from an ancestor.- an example: lack of tail in the ape and human group,

Question 6

What does hierarchy mean?

Answer 6

basically, ranked societies; typically born into these societies.

Question 7

What are the main hierarchical levels in biological classification?

Answer 7

kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species- king Philip came over from Germany singing

Question 8

What is the level of relatedness of organisms in the same classification group versus
different classification groups?

Answer 8

Closely related, versus different classification groups - further related.

Question 9

What is a diagnostic character?

Answer 9

a base only found in one group

Question 10

What is taxonomy?

Answer 10

classification of organisms

Question 11

What are Systematics?

Answer 11

the evolutionary relationships between organisms

Question 12

Are all primates in the same order? What order(s) are they in?

Answer 12

No, they are organized into Haplorrhines and Strepsirrhines

Question 13

Are all primates in the same family?

Answer 13

No, they vary based on their classifications

Question 14

What are some major differences between Strepsirhini and Haplorhini?

Answer 14

Haplorhini has dry nose while Strepsirhini has a moist surface of skin that surrounds the nose, split lip. Strepsirhini has grooming claw while Haplorhini has nails on all digits. Strepsirhini has a toothcomb while Haplorhini doesn’t.

Question 15

What are the three major primate infraorders?

Answer 15

Tarsiiformes, Platyrrhini, and Catarrhini

Question 16

What are some of Tarsiiformes most distinguishing characteristics?

Answer 16

Huge eye orbits(nocturnality), grooming claw, molars with sharp pointy cusps

Question 17

What are some of Platyrrhini’s most distinguishing characteristics?

Answer 17

Dental formula 2-1-3-3, no boney ear tube, side directed nostrils

Question 18

What are some of Catarrhini’s most distinguishing characteristics?

Answer 18

Dental formula 2-1-2-3, boney ear tube, down directed nostrils

Question 19

What are some challenges studying primate behavior?

Answer 19

different populations are not always comparable

Question 20

What is Objectivity?

Answer 20

an unattainable goal resulting in bias

Question 21

What does anthropomorphism mean?

Answer 21

attribution of human emotions or traits to non-human entities. - Example: “monkeys are sad, jealous, etc.”

Question 22

What is an ethogram?

Answer 22

Behavioral classifications

Question 23

In what ways are ethograms useful?

Answer 23

to detect the occurrence or prevalence of abnormal behaviors

Question 24

What are three major observation techniques?

Answer 24

Ad libitum sampling, Focal Animal Instantaneous sampling, and Scan sampling

Question 25

What is Ad Libitum?

Answer 25

the diary approach to recording behavior

Question 26

What is Focal Animal Instantaneous sampling

Answer 26

Data recorded at predetermined intervals while focusing on the behavior of one individual at a time

Question 27

What is Scan sampling?

Answer 27

Data recorded at the time of action

Question 28

What is the main concept of the comparative basis?

Answer 28

to assess fossils and place them in a taxonomic scheme

Question 29

What are the two major differences researchers focus on when comparing humans and chimpanzees?

Answer 29

Bipedalism and bone structure

Question 30

Can you describe how chimpanzees walk?

Answer 30

Using quadrupedalism, knuckle-walking

Question 31

Can you describe how humans walk?

Answer 31

Using bipedalism, stance phase - swing phase

Question 32

Describe human anatomy.

Answer 32

Vertebral column has two curves, pelvis short and broad, big toe much thicker than other toes, toes straighter, no opposable big toe

Question 33

Describe chimpanzee anatomy.

Answer 33

Vertebral column has one slight curve, pelvis long and narrow, big toe slightly thicker than other toes, toes more curved, opposable big toe

Question 34

Describe chimpanzee balance .

Answer 34

center of mass is the balance point, good balance

Question 35

Describe human’s balance.

Answer 35

“Unbalanced”, base of support is small (only two feet)

Question 36

How do human and chimpanzee diets differ?

Answer 36

Humans typically consume more protein while chimps eat more fruit

Question 37

Where and when did Neanderthals live?

Answer 37

across Eurasia, 500,000ybp to 30,000ybp

Question 38

Where and when did homo erectus live?

Answer 38

asia and eurasia, 1,800,000 to 150,000ybp

Question 39

What species was lucy, and when did she live?

Answer 39

Australopithecus afarensis,
Lived ~3,500,000 ybp

Question 40

What was Homo Floresiensis?

Answer 40

“Hobbits”

Question 41

What analogy do researchers use to describe the evolution of humans and their
extinct relatives

Answer 41

(Dendrogram) A candelabra because it visually looked similar to the structure of a dendrogram.