human evolution

Question 1

Identify and describe our class

Answer 1

Mammalia

• milk-producing mammary glands
• hair / fur
• three bones in the middle ear (to aid hearing)
• one lower jawbone (connected to skull /provides powerful bite)
• variety of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, molars

Question 2

Identify and describe our Order

Answer 2

Primate

Body features:
- (opposable thumb or toe which allow grasping of objects)
- Large number of sensitive touch receptors in finger
- Flexible spines and large degree of rotation around hips
and shoulders (increased flexibility – can live in trees)

Skull features:
- Large craniums (large brains)
- 3D colour vision, front facing eyes

Functional Features:
- social animals (typically lives in groups)

Question 3

Identify and describe our Subfamily

Answer 3

Hominoids

• Includes Apes and Modern humans

Body features:

• Shorter spine between rib cage and pelvis
• Broader rib cage and pelvis
• Lack of tail
• Typically longer arms than legs (humans are exception)

Skull features:

• even bigger cranium size

Question 4

Identify and describe our Tribe

Answer 4

Tribe: Hominins

• Genus: homo
• Bipedalism: The ability to walk upright on two legs.
• Reduction in size of canines (driven by change in diet)
• Ability to speak / communicate
• A tendency to form large, complex societies
• Increased cognitive abilities (think, develop language, create tools)