major phases in hominin evolution from 6 mya to present Flashcards
1
Q
genera of tribe homini
A
- orrorin and ardipithecus (earliest : ethiopia)
- australopithecus (east & south africa)
- homo (in and out africa)
2
Q
A. Ardipithecus
A
- bipedalism
- 1.2m , 50kg
- small brain case
- long arms and fingers
- foramen magnum like apes
- brow ridges , lower face projects
- ape-like teeth
- Ardi (5.8 - 4.4 mya)
3
Q
B. Australopithecines
A
- 1.5m
- prognathic face , large brow ridges , no chin , low sloping forehead
- U-shaped palate
- small brain capacity
- bipedal
- more forward foramen magnum
- long arms , short legs , long toes , curved hands
- omnivores
4
Q
australopithecus afarensis
A
- Lucy (3.2 mya)
- short
- small cranial capacity
- long arms , curved fingers and toes
- brow ridge , sloping face , no chin
- dentition primitive , diastema , canines
- sexual dimorphism
- ethiopia , kenya , tanzania
5
Q
australopithecus africanus
A
- taung child (2.5 mya)
- mrs. ples (2 mya)
- little foot (3.3 - 2.2 mya)
- short
- brain capacity of 450 cc
- long arms , shorter legs
- less prominent brow ridge , higher forehead , shorter face
- larger teeth and jaws than humans , reduced canine , U-shaped palate , no diastema
- found in SA
- small social groups, fruit , scavenged
6
Q
what features of Australopithecus Africanus show evolution towards homo
A
- larger brain
- fully bipedal (upright)
- human-like teeth
- rounded dental arch
- heavy meat diet
- larger body
7
Q
Australopithecus sediba
A
- (1.7 - 20 mya)
- short
- brow ridges , no cranial ridge
- less prognathous
- small brain capacity , long arms , short strong hands (austro - traits)
- wider and shallower pelvis , long legs , small premolars and molars , short canines)
- southern africa
8
Q
australopithecus robustus
A
- (1.2 - 2.0 mya)
- short
- brain capacity of 530 cc
- long face , broad flat very small forehead , heavy brow ridges and sagittal crest
- long arms
- small incisors and canines , huge molars (vegetarian diet)
- Southern africa
9
Q
C. Homo
A
- (2.4 mya)
- 1.3m - 2m
- centered foramen magnum
- long thumbs , hands smaller than feet
- large complex brain
- dexterous hands (tool making)
- less prominent brow ridges , flatter face , no skull ridges , human teeth , parabolic palate
- omnivorous
10
Q
homo habilis
A
- (1.6 - 2.4 mya)
- long arms , short legs
- brain capacity of 700cc
- rounded cranium , large brow ridges , no forehead , slightly projecting face
- large molars , narrow strong jaw
- tool maker
- east africa
11
Q
homo ergaster
A
- (1.4 - 2.0 mya)
- 185m
- human-like body proportions (legs longer, arms shorter)
- brain capacity 850cc
- more vertical face , chinless , brow ridges , smaller teeth
- efficient hunter
- control fire
- Turkana boy
12
Q
what features of homo erectus (1.8 - 3.0 mya) show that is had progressed towards homo sapiens?
A
- tall (150 - 180)
- perfectly adapted to bipedalism (swift)
- brain capacity of 1000cc
- tool makers and users
- first to control fire
- southern african
13
Q
what can the use of fires tell us about the lifestyle of homo erectus?
A
- social behaviours (warmth , extended ‘daylight’
- encouraged conversation and teaching
- more permanent residence
- protection
- co-operative hunting (herding)
- roast meat (more protein intake)
- wider choice of food
- intelligence (planning)
- better stronger tools
- migration to colder climates
14
Q
homo heidelbergensis
A
- (0.2 - 0.7 mya)
- as tall as modern humans
- brain capacity of 1200cc
- rounded cranium , large brow ridge , flatter face
- hunt in groups
- possible ancestor of modern humans
15
Q
homo neanderthalensis
A
- (0.03 - 0.235 mya)
- 1.6m
- heavy skeleton
- large brains (1450cc), smaller forebrain than mh
- low ccrainum , smaller brow ridges , back sloping forehead , long face
- little evidence of technological development
- share some cultural traits as mh
- disappeared (out competed by heidelbergensis)
