Fossil Classification

Question 1

Plesiadapiformes

Answer 1

Paleocene 50-65 mya most common in Europe and north america decline and extinction during eocene early mammals with certain primate like characteristics

Question 2

Prosimian radiation

Answer 2

Eocene

Question 3

Adapoids

Answer 3

probable ancestor to strepsirhines ranges in size large rat to large house cat mainly N.A. and Europe

Question 4

Omomyoids

Answer 4

Tarsier like more in North America probable ancestors to haplorhines

Question 5

Parapithecidae

Answer 5

derived characteristics of anthropoids ancestors of platyrrhines Fayum, Egypt

Question 6

Propliopithecidae - abidum

Answer 6

some similarities to new world money ancestor of cattarhines Fayum, Egypt

Question 7

Proplioapithecidae - aegyptopithecus

Answer 7

1st definitive catarrhine y-5 molar pattern may be ancestor to both cercopithecoids and hominoids Fayum, Egypt

Question 8

Proconsul

Answer 8

generalized ape mixture of monkey and ape like features 24-14 mya Africa no tail

Question 9

Afropithecus

Answer 9

Eurasia thick molar enable

Question 10

Dryopithecus

Answer 10

Europe 9.5 mya long arms, short legs long hand with powerful fingers ancestral to all living apes

Question 11

Sivapithecus

Answer 11

Pakistan, turkey, china, Kenya facial similarities to orangutans ancestors to orangs

Question 12

Khoratpithecus

Answer 12

9-7 mya southeast asia Thailand several derived features relative to sivapithecus possibly more closely related to orangs

Question 13

Gigantopithecus

Answer 13

huge molars and premolars thick enamel maybe 9ft tall 9 mya - 100 cya contemporary with homo erectus

Question 14

Australopithecus afarensis

Answer 14

3.3 - 2.5 mya habitual/obligative biped South Africa cranial capacity ~450cc higher forehead less pronounced brow ridge smaller canines and large molars

Question 15

Ardipithecus ramidus

Answer 15

4.4 mya supplemental bipedalism hominid ancestor walking in trees

Question 16

Sahelanthropus tchadnensis

Answer 16

7-6 mya Chad non functioning honing mechanism anterior foramen magnum

Question 17

Orrorin tugenensis

Answer 17

6 mya tugen hills, Kenya arboreal arms and biped legs femur indicates bipedality large canines

Question 18

Ardipithecus Kadabba

Answer 18

5.8 - 5.2 mya Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Question 19

Victoriapithecus

Answer 19

first clear catarrhine Africa, Oligocene/Eocene extinct subfamily

Question 20

Kenyanthripus platyops

Answer 20

3.5 mya Lake turkana, Kenya cranial capacity: 450cc flat face emphasis on mastication small sagittal crest

Question 21

Australopithecus Garhi

Answer 21

2.5 mya Bouri, Ethiopia cranial capacity: ~450cc longer arms than legs strong subnasal prognanthism large cheek, teeth, small sagittal crest oldowan tools found nearby more likely ancestor to hominid species

Question 22

Paranthropus Boisei

Answer 22

2.3 - 1.2 mya Olucai Gorge, Tanzania, Koobie, Ethiopia, East Africa ~530cc likely lineage with P. ethipoicus sagittal crest, large mandible, flat face

Question 23

Paranthropus robustus

Answer 23

1.7 - 1.2 mya South Africa ~530cc sagittal crest large molars concave mid facial region, squared orbits high degree of sexual dimorphism

Question 24

Paranthropus Aethiopicus

Answer 24

2.7 - 2.3 mya

Lake Turkana, Kenya

walker and Leaky 1985

~410cc

sagittal crest

flattened face

large postcanine dentition

Question 25

Australopithecus Africanus

Answer 25

3.3 - 2.5 mya

South Africa

~450cc

higher forhead

less pronounced brow ridge

smaller canines and large molars

biped