Lecture 11 - origin of the hominoidea

Question 1

Tuang boy anatomy

Answer 1

• small brain but more human than ape
• small human-like canine teeth
• bipedal - (foramen magnum central) evidence of walking upright

Question 2

A.robustus (2-1 million years old)

Answer 2

• thick jaws and heavy teeth - stronger, bigger animal

- also called paranthropus

Question 3

is human evolution a linear progression?

Answer 3

no

Question 4

what was discovered in Ethiopia in the 1970’s?

Answer 4

‘Lucy’ - 40% complete fossil of A. afarensis

• lots of info on pelvic size and limb size
• fully bipedal
• small brain size
• mixture of ape and hominin characteristics
• 3 million years old

Question 5

what was discovered in 1978 in Tanzania?

Answer 5

A. afarensis footprints

• preserved in a volcanic ash layer
• 2 sets walking side by side

Question 6

how many australopithecine species are there?

Answer 6

14

Question 7

when did homo sapiens diverge from their closest related ancestor?

Answer 7

7 million years ago

Question 8

what is homo sapiens closest related ancestor?

Answer 8

Australopithecus africanus

Question 9

define sister group

Answer 9

the closest relatives of another given unit in an evolutionary tree

Question 10

australopithecus adaptations for tree climbing

Answer 10

1. funnel shaped thorax - more shoulder movement for climbing
2. flanges in toe longer
3. short hind limbs