Josh's flashcards

Question 1

List four platyrrhine synapomorphies/traits.

Answer 1

1) 3 premolars
2) Ring-like ectotympanic fused
3) I shaped pterion
4) No size sexual dimorphism

Question 2

Hylobatid traits

Answer 2

1) Extremely long arms and hands

2) No incisive canal

Question 3

Cercopithecoid synapomorphies/traits.

Answer 3

1) Bilophodonty adaptations
2) No hypoconulid on M1 and M2
3) Tail present
4) Legs longer than arms (arboreal quadrupeds mostly)

Question 4

Catarrhine synapomorphies/traits.

Answer 4

1) H-shaped pterion
2) 2 premolars
3) Tubular ectotympanic

Question 5

Anthropoid synapomorphies/traits.

Answer 5

1) Fused mandibular symphysis
2) Fused frontal bone
3) Complete postorbital closure
4) No paraconid
5) Trigonid and talonid are the same height
6) Taller face

Question 6

Hominid symapomorphies/traits

Answer 6

1) Pongo
- incisor heteromorphy
- No anterior digrastic muscle scar
- Smooth subnasal

2) Pan/Gorilla
- thin enamel
- stepped subnasal

All = incisive canal

Question 7

Tarsier synapomorphies/traits

Answer 7

1) Large orbits
2) Fused tibia-fibula
3) Massively elongated tarsals
4) Bell-shaped palate
5) Tubular ectotympanic
6) Pterygoid plates contact bulla

Question 8

Strepsirrhine synapomorphies/ traits

Answer 8

1) Tooth comb
2) Grooming claw
3) Ring-like ectotympanic
4) Cranial blood supply from the stapedial branch of the internal carotid (lorises ascending pharyngeal)
5) Sloped fibular facet

Question 9

Primate evolution theories

Answer 9

1) Arboreal theory:

• orbital convergence for depth perception when climbing
• nails avoid injury
• but squirrels

2) Visual predation theory:
- orbital convergence for depth perception when hunting insects
3) Angiosperm radiation theory:

• Expansion of angiosperms coincided with evolution of primates
• Arboreal capabilities to reach the fruit
• colour vision

Question 10

List four hominin synapomorphies

Answer 10

1) Bipedalism
2) Large EQ
3) Associated with high tool use
4) Small canines

Question 11

Homo habilis/rudolfensis traits

Answer 11

1) Reduced prognathism
2) Small incisors/canines
3) Oldowan tool use
4) Well developed foot arch
5) H. rudolfensis shows most significant EQ increase yet

Question 12

Homo erectus/ergaster/georgicus traits

Answer 12

1) Human-like body proportions (legs longer than arms)
2) Barrel-chested (like humans)
3) No chin
4) Postnasal prognathism
5) Thick supraorbital torus
6) Largest EQ yet
7) Small masticoid process
8) Projecting nasal bones
9) Sagittal keel (Asian)
10) Acheulean tool use

Question 13

Describe Homo erectus (Asia)

Answer 13

1) Thick cranial vault
2) Sagittal keel
3) Robust face
4) Thick supraorbital torus

Question 14

Describe Homo ergaster (Africa)

Answer 14

1) Cranial vault positioned higher
2) No sagittal keel
3) Gracile face
4) Thin supraorbital torus and cranial bones
5) Slightly smaller brain size than H. erectus

Question 15

List Australopithecine/Praeanthropus traits

Answer 15

1) Semi-bipedal (bipedal adaptations of legs/feet and arboreal adaptations of thorax/arms/hands
2) Thicker enamel (but still thin compared to humans)
3) EQ larger than chimp range

Question 16

List some hominoid synapomorphies/traits.

Answer 16

1) Low, rounded molar cusps (frugivory)
2) No tail
3) Longer arms than legs (suspensory except in early African hominids)
4) Y5 molar formation

Question 17

Name three Homo erectus specimens

Answer 17

1) Peking man
2) Turkana boy

• 85% complete
• 8-12 years old

3) Gona pelvis

• female pelvis
• shows intermediate birth canal

Question 18

Name one Praeanthropus specimen.

Answer 18

1) Lucy

• Pr. afarensis
• AL 288-1
• 40% complete

2) Selam/Lucy’s child

• Pr. afarensis
• 3 yrs old

Question 19

Name one Australopithecus specimen

Answer 19

1) Taung child

- Australopithecus africanus

Question 20

List some characteristics of bipedalism

Answer 20

1) Valgus knee
2) Lumbar curve
3) Short, broad ilium
4) Arched foot, non-divergent hallux
5) Downward facing ankle joint
6) Long femoral neck

Question 21

List some suspensory traits

Answer 21

1) Very long forelimbs
2) Long clavicle
3) Globular humeral head
4) Dorsally humeral head
5) Broad thorax/sternum
6) Round radial hea
7) Reduced ulnar styloid

Question 22

Lis three omomyid species

Answer 22

1) Afrotarsius
2) Archicebus achilles
3) Necrolemur

Question 23

List five adapid species

Answer 23

1) Adapis
2) Darwinius masillae
3) Afradapis
4) Notharctus venticolus
5) Smilodectes

Question 24

Three haplorhine synapomorphies/traits

Answer 24

1) Cranial blood supply via promontory branch of internal carotid artery
2) Partial/full postorbital closure
3) Reduced ethnoturbinals

Question 25

Describe the orbital closure status of tarsiers, anthropoids and strepsirrhines.

Answer 25

1) Streps have no postorbital closure
2) Tarsiers have partial postorbital closure
3) Anthropoids have full postorbital closure

Question 26

Describe the ectotympanics of lemurs, Lorisiformes, tarsiers, catarrhines and platyrrhines

Answer 26

1) Lemurs = ring-like suspended
2) Lorisiformes = ring-like fused
3) Tarsiers = tubular
4) Catarrhines = tubular
5) Platyrrhines = ring-like, fused