The Genus Homo (Lab)

Question 1

fossil record of our own genus, Homo, begins in

Answer 1

late Pliocene epoch

Question 2

Compared with australopithecines, members of the genus Homo are generally characterized as having (4)

Answer 2

smaller cheek teeth,
a more slender mandible,
less facial prognathism,
and increased absolute brain size.

Question 3

early Homo is best known from fossils attributed to 2 species:

found in

Answer 3

Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis

East Africa

Question 4

Homo habilis (2)

Answer 4

long forelimbs and short hindlimbs

smaller cheek teeth

Question 5

Homo rudolfensis (2)

Answer 5

larger endocranial volume

large cheek teeth

Question 6

Homo ergaster and Homo erectus (5)

Answer 6

larger body sizes,
longer legs, 
larger endocranial volumes 
 Facial prognathism is reduced in
relative and absolute size of the cheek teeth is reduced

Question 7

Homo ergaster/Homo erectus migrated

where to where

Answer 7

out of Africa and into Eurasia

Question 8

Homo floresiensis
where
2 traits
why those two traits

Answer 8

Indonesian island of Flores
much smaller
small brain size

“insular dwarfism”, inwhich island-dwelling species undergo a reduction in body size due to resource limitations

Question 9

H. heidelbergensis (4)

Answer 9

smaller teeth,
a broad mandibular ramus,
a larger endocranial volume
and a double arched brow ridge

Question 10

Homo neanderthalensis (5)

Answer 10

prognathic midface,
a large nasal aperture,
and massive brow ridges
limbs were robust and distally shortened
active lifestyle in a sub-glacial climate

Question 11

Homo sapiens
where?
subspecies?

Answer 11

Ethiopian site of Herto

H. sapiens idaltu

Question 12

Anatomically modern Homo sapiens (9)

Answer 12

small teeth, 
a flattened (orthognathic) face, 
a distinct chin, 
reduced brow ridges, 
a rounded skull, 
and a vertically high forehead
Prominent mental eminence – a definitive chin
gracile limbs with thinner bone shafts
skeletons are less robust

Question 13

If Homo habilis represents one dimorphic species, what is the importance of this finding?

Answer 13

suggest that early Homo species were not monogamous and pair living (strong male-male competition for access to females)

Question 14

“Bergmann’s Rule”

Answer 14

the greater the surface area of a body relative to its mass, the faster heat dissipates

Question 15

“Allen’s Rule”

Answer 15

living in colder climates are expected to have shorter limbs than animals living in warmer climates ( Lengthening the limbs increases body surface area more than body mass)