Hominin Species Flashcards
1
Q
Sahelanthropus
A
- 6.8 MYA
- oldest known human
- More upright and bipedal than chimps, however not entirely bipedal
- small canine teeth in comparison to other apes
- flatter faces
- small body size and brain
2
Q
Ardipithecus Ramidus
A
-4.4 MYA
-discovered in 2009 in Ethiopia
-“intermediate” form of upright walking
- not entirely bipedal, but did not knuckle
walk
-smaller canine teeth—-> reduced aggression
-small body size and brain
3
Q
Gracile Australopithecus
A
- “Lucy”
- 3.2 MYA
- clearly bipedal
- Human like: hands and feet
- Chimp like: long arms, small brain (1/3 the size of a modern human brain)
- skull/jaws for chewing soft food
4
Q
Robust Australopithecus
A
- Larger and more robust than “Lucy”
- Sturdy skull
- Jaws and teeth show changes for new food sources
- chewing tough food, nuts and seeds
- more similar to humans
- change in dentition= change in diet
5
Q
Homo Habilis
A
- Earliest homo species
- -2.4 MYA
- First species where we see extensive tool use
- evidence of opposable thumbs
6
Q
Homo Ergaster
A
-shows evidence of meat eating—> behavioral change
7
Q
Homo Erectus
A
- males and females similar in size
- social behavior, pair bonding
- ** first to migrate out of Africa
8
Q
Homo Floresiensis
A
- “hobbits”
- 95,000 to 17,000 MYA
- Dwarf species: 66 lbs, 3.5 feet tall
- Descendant of Homo erectus
9
Q
Homo Heidelbergensis
A
- Moved out of Africa into Europe and China
- Brain nearly as large as modern humans
- Advance tool use and behavior
- Common ancestor of homo sapiens and homo neanderthalensis
10
Q
Homo Neanderthalensis (Neandertals)
A
- Closest relative to homo sapiens
- very human like
- brain as large as modern homo sapiens
- complex social behavior
- complex tool use
- Skeleton similar, but a little smaller
- Difference in the face—-> forward projecting
- originated in Europe 35,000 years ago
- went extinct 24,0000 years ago
- evidence of interbreeding with homo sapiens
