Human Evolution Flashcards
what caused all of the dinosaurs to be wiped out 65mya and what did this enable other mammals to do
mass extinction // to fill empty ecological niches
how do primates differ from mammals
large eyes
large brains
flexible limbs with grasping hands
list the 2 types of primates
prosimians and anthropoids
compare prosimians and anthropoids
prosimians:
- more primitive
- less developed brains
- lemurs, tarsiers and bushbabies
anthropoids
- more advanced
- larger brains
- monkey, apes, humans
compare hominids and homonins
hominids
- group of primates that contain all african apes
homonins
- bipedal (walk on 2 legs)
what species are included under homonins
ardipithecus
australopithecus
homosapiens
describe the movement habits of an african ape
- have the ability to walk on 2 legs but usually walk on 4
- use knuckles on front limbs for support
what is the only hominin to have survived
humans
list 6 anatomical similarities between african apes and humans
structure of body relatively large large brain no tail sexual dimorphism hands used as tools omivorous dental formula long gestation period young helpless no distinct breeding season
list 3 pieces of evidence for common ancestors
fossil
genetic
cultural
list 6 pieces of fossil evidence that suggests a common ancestor
- humans have a more cup shaped pelvis and pelvic girdle
- humans spine is curved
- in humans foramen magnum is nearer middle
- humans have a stiff foot with a big toe
- humans have a larger fontal area with a larger cranium
- hominids have same dental formula
what is prognathism
condition of jaws that project beyond upper part of face
explain why humans don’t need as large jaw muscles as apes
humans food is easier to chew and not necessary as food is cooked
why do humans have a more upright brown
in order to hold a larger brain
explain how mtDNA is passed on from mother to daughter
sperm fertilses an egg
(nucleus enters egg)
cytoplasm of zygote will therefo only contain mitochondria with mtdna
WHERE IS THE OLUVAI GORGE
In Tanzania
how did hunting become normalized
when spears were created from flakes of rocks
list the three ages in order
: bronze, iron and copper
copper, bronze, iron
list 4 things that technology developed during the age of industrialization
see further
see smaller things
hear things miles away
carry massive loads
describe ardipithecus
small hominid toe like thumb small brain rigid feet prognathus face heavy brow riddge teeth show they ate plants and fruit
why can it be said that it is likely ardipithecus is a transitional form between apes and autralopithicus.
shows intermediate characteristics.
describe australopithecus
southern ape man small brained large toothed fully bipedal small
name the 2 types within australopithecus
- gracie
- robust
list the 4 major phases in hominid evolution
- H.habilis
- H. erectus
- H. heidelbergensis
- H. Sapiens
what is unique about the H. Habilis
they are the first to make tools
where are the first fossoils of H.habilis found
olduvai gorge in tanzania
why are H.habilis classified as humans
- large brain
- small teeth
- face is less prognathus
- smalle eye sockets
- foot has a modern arch
where were the first H.Erectus fossils found
indonesia
what is unique about H. Erectus
very variable
skull heavy with a large brain
control fire
first hominin to migrate out of Africa
where was H.Heidelbergensis firrst found in fossil form
germany
describe H.Heidelbergensis
large muscular large brow ridge flatter face larger brain no chin
describe the relationship between volume of brain size and time
as time increase volume of the brain increases.
chimps and humans have what percentage of there genome in common
98%
mutations happen at a _______ rate
steady
