PRIMATES Flashcards
Benefits of standing upright
- Better visibility
- Can reach food on higher branches
- Leaves hands free to carry food
- Leaves hands free to make tools, carry weapons
- More energy-efficient way of walking
- Less exposure to the sun
Adaptation of the foremen magnum
Became centrally located in the base of the cranium.
Explain the adaptation of the jaw bone
Small and non-protruding, enabling the skull to balance on the vertebral column.
Explain the adaptation of the vertebral column
Lumbar vertebrae wedge-shaped, producing an S-shaped curve that brings the vertebral column directly under the centre of the skull.
Explain the adaptation of the pelvis
Broad; shallow from top to bottom. Provides support for the abdominal organs. Attachment of femurs is wide apart, contributing to the carrying angle.
Explain the adaptation of the femurs
Large head of the femurs contribute to carrying angle
Explain the adaptation of the knee joint
Outer ‘hinge’ larger and stronger, to take weight off the body. Knee is able to be straightened.
Explain the adaptation of the legs
Longer than arms, contributing to a low centre of gravity. Carrying angle allows the weight of the body to be kept close to the central axis.
Explain the adaptation of the foot
Larger heel bone and aligned big toe form a pedestal on which the body is supported. Foot has both longitudinal and transverse arches.
Why are the laetou footprints in Tanzania so significant?
They have been around for 3.56 million years, and it was the first evidence of upright bipedal locomotion.
Difference in skull between gorilla and human
- Spine moved from towards back of skull to centre under the brain.
- Cranial capacity from 300/500cm3 to 1350cm3.
- From distinct brow ridge to a non-existent brow ridge
- Chin more prognathic to chin being defined.
Difference in vertebral column between gorilla and human
- C- shaped in gorilla, s-shaped with double curvature in humans
- Size of vertebrae is bigger in gorillas, smaller and not as developed in humans.
Difference in pelvis between gorilla and human
Pelvis long and narrow in gorillas, broader and shorter in humans
Difference in femur between gorilla and human
No carrying angle in gorilla, carrying angle in humans.
Humans have a two-part hinge joint in the knee, gorillas only have one-part hinge joint
Difference in the foot between gorillas and humans
Big toe diverged in gorilla, converged in humans.
Weak heel, large ankle in gorillas, strong heel and presence of ankle joint in humans.
Only longitudinal arch in gorillas, longitudinal and transverse arch in humans.
Summary of Australopithecus Afarensis
- 2.5 million years old
- 1 - 1.5 m tall
- Herbivorous (eating seeds, nuts and fruits)
- Small canines and diastema, large molars w/ thick enamel
- No evidence of tool making
Summary of Australopithecus Africanus
- 2 - 3 million years old
- 1 - 1.3 m
- Omnivorous, scavenger for meat
- Large, prognathic jaw with large molar teeth
- Oldowan (pebble) tools.
Summarise Paranthropus robustus
- 2.5 - 1.3 million
- 1.4 -1.5 metres
- Tough vegetarian diet
- Smaller front teeth, larger back teeth
- Minimal evidence of tool use
Summarise Paranthropus boisei
- 2.3 - 1.2 million
- 1.2 - 1.3 metres
Tougher food, roots, nuts and fruit - Small biting front teeth, small canines, large molars
- Oldowan tool culture
Summarise homo habilis
- 2.5 - 1.5 million
- 1.2 - 1.5 metres
- Vegetable material, temporary meat eater
- Less prognathic, large molars, prominent canines
- first evidence of tool making, Oldowan phasing into acheulian
Summarise homo erectus
- 1.6 m - 200,000
- 1.5 - 1.6 m
- Hunting a major source of food, first meat eaters
- Less prognathic jaw, smaller teeth (esp. molars)
- Systemic hunters, first use of fire
- Acheulian tools
Summarise archaic Homo sapiens
- 35,000 - 17,000
- Hunter-gatherers, meat-eaters, cooked the meat.
- Small teeth, chin defined
- Complex tools aurighacian, solutrean, magdalenian, cave art
Summarise Neanderthals
- 125,000 - 40,000
- 1.5 - 1.6
- Meat eaters, hunters, vegetation
- Less prognathic jaw, small teeth, vertical chin
- Burial of dead, mousterian flake tools
Oldowan tool culture
First appeared: 2.5 million years ago
Associated hominid : homo habilis
