Human Evolution - Hominid Studies, Sequence, Out of Africa Hypothesis, Evolution in present times Flashcards
Define hominids:
The term that refers to the Great Apes as well as humans and their fossil ancestors.
Define Homo sapiens
The genus and species to which modern human beings belong.
Define bipedalism:
An upright posture and locomotion on two feet.
Define knuckle walking:
The specific four-footed manner of walking illustrated by gorillas and chimpanzees.
Define prognathism:
The phenomenon in apes of large, prominent jaws (snout / muzzle) with no chin.
Define chromosomal DNA:
DNA that occurs in the nucleus of all cells and contains all the genetic information of an organism.
Define tool culture:
The way in which tools found in a particular region are made and used.
Explain Oldowan tool culture:
The tool culture that is named after an area in Tanzania where the oldest tools were first found.
Explain Acheulian tool culture:
The tool culture that is named after an area in France where more advanced tools were found.
What is Mousterian tool culture?
The most advanced tool culture composed of more refined tools and tool kits.
List the three main hominid genera:
-Ardipithecus
-Australopithecus
-Homo
“Who” / what is Taung Child?”
The name given to a fossil skull of Australopithecus africanus which was found by Prof. Raymond Dart near Kimberley
“Who”/ what is Mrs Ples?
Name given to a complete adult skull of Australopithecus africanus discovered by Dr Robert Broom in 1947 in the Sterkfontein Caves.
Who / what is Lucy?
The name given to a female fossil skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis found at Hadar in the Afar valley in Ethiopia by Donald Johanson in 1974.
Who / what was Little foot?
Name given to the ankle and foot bones of an Australopithecus fossil discovered by Dr Ron Clarke in 1994 in the Sterkfontein Caves.
What is Australopithecus sediba?
The genus and species name of the two fossils that were discovered in the Cradle of Humankind, in the Malapa area by Prof Lee Berger and his 9 year old son, Matthew.
What does Homo habilis mean?
handy man
What is the literal meaning of Homo erectus?
upright man
Explain Homo neaderthalensis:
The Homo species which had a larger brain than Homo sapiens, but weaker development in language and technology.
Explain the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis:
The hypothesis that suggests Homo sapiens originated in Africa approximately 200000 year ago and migrated to the rest of the world relatively recently (50000 years ago).
Where in East Africa was the most hominid fossils found?
The Great Rift Valley
Name the area in the world that is the richest in hominid fossils:
Cradle of Humankind
Who was Dr Robert Broom?
Scottish medical doctor and palaeontologist who discovered Mrs Ples in 1947 in Sterkfontein.
Who was Dr Raymond Dart?
An Australian anatomist and anthropologist who discovered Taung child in 1924.
