Lecture 3 - overview of early human fossil record

Question 1

major evolutionary novelties of humans

Answer 1

1. characteristics of dentition
2. habitual bipedalism
3. elaboration of material culture
4. significant increase in brain size
5. long developmental period & life span

Question 2

ape vs human dentition

Answer 2

ape
- U-shaped arcade
- large canines, broad incisors

human
- parabolic arcade
- smaller anterior teeth

Question 3

bipedalism evidence

Answer 3

• more forward foramen magnum
• lumbar curvature
• short, broad pelvis, curved illium
• valgus knee
• enlarged heel, arches
• non-opposable big toes, short toes

Question 4

stem hominins characteristics

Answer 4

• earliest hominin candidates
• must be bipedal & have some derived features in dentition

Question 5

stem hom examples

Answer 5

Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Orrorin tugenesis,
Ardipithecus spp.

Question 6

gracile hominins characteristics

Answer 6

species of Australopithecus
southern & eastern Africa
all bipedal with more ‘modern’ dentition

Question 7

megadont archaic hominin characteristics

Answer 7

sspecies of Paranthropus
southern & eastern Africa
extremely large teeth & masticatory apparatus

Question 8

transitional hominin characteristics

Answer 8

yet to acquire modern body propoertions or behavior
intermediate btwn australopiths & Homo

Question 9

names of transitional hominins

Answer 9

Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, Homo naledi

Question 10

pre-modern homo characteristics

Answer 10

modern body proportions
enlarged brains
out of Africa
fire, more sophisticated tools

Question 11

pre-modern homo names

Answer 11

H. erectus, H. ergaster, H. floresiensis & middle Pleistocene hominins (H. heidelbergensis, antecessor, rhodesiensis), & H. neanderthalensis