Fossil Evidence for Human Evolution Flashcards
What does evidence from fossils suggest about human ancestors?
That humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor that existed around 6 million years ago.
What are human beings and their ancestors known as?
Hominids.
How do hominid fossils show evolution?
Hominid fossils have characteristics that are between apes and humans - by looking at this you can see how humans have evolved over time.
Who is Ardi?
A fossil of the species Ardipithecus ramidus.
Where was Ardi found?
Ethiopia.
How old is Ardi?
4.4 million years old.
What features did Ardi have?
- An ape-like big toe, suggesting she climbed trees.
- Long arms and short legs.
- Her brain size was about the same as a chimpanzee’s.
- Structure of her legs suggested she walked upright.
- More like an ape than a human.
Who is Lucy?
A fossil of the species Australopithecus afarensis.
Where was Lucy found?
Ethiopia.
How old is Lucy?
3.2 million years old.
What features did Lucy have?
- Arched feet, no ape-like big toe, more adapted to walking.
- The size of her arms and legs was between what you would expect to find in apes and humans.
- Her brain was slightly larger than Ardi’s, but still similar to a chimp’s.
- Leg and feet structure suggested she walked upright as well, but more efficiently than Ardi.
What year did Richard Leakey organise an expedition to Kenya to look for hominid fossils?
1984.
Who did Leakey and his team find?
Turkana Boy.
How old is Turkana Boy?
1.6 million years old.
What species did Turkana Boy belong to?
Homo erectus.
What features did Turkana Boy have?
- A mixture of human and ape-like features, but is more human-like than Lucy.
- Short arms and long legs are more like a human than an ape.
- His brain size was much larger than Lucy’s - similar to a human brain size.
- Leg and feet structure suggests he was better adapted to walking upright than Lucy.
