what makes us human Flashcards
What traits do we possess that makes us special compared to other species?
language
bipedal
large brain
opposable thumbs
conscious
tool use
what are opposable thumbs
Thumbs that can be placed opposite to a finger on the same hand
Allows grasping
who have opposable thumbs
Most primates, koalas, pandas, etc.
who can oppose the tip of the thumbs and the tips of all the fingers
humans
what is language
A structured system of communication
what other animals use language
Birds, bees, chimps
how do humans communicate
open-ended and infinite
how do animals communicate
closed systems of finite possibilities
what is conciousness
Sentience of awareness of internal and external existence
do other animals have conciousness
yes but hard to study
what other animals are bipedal
Kangaroos, kangaroo rats, seagulls etc.
Also birds and dinosaurs
who is the only bipedal great ape
humans
what is more efficient; 2 legs or 4 legs
Walking on 2 legs costs more energy than walking on 4
But running on 2 legs is more efficient than running on 4
who is the only naked great ape and primate
humans
Other naked mammals?
Elephants, rhinoceroses, marine mammals, and hippopotamuses
why are there other naked mammals
Because they are at constant risk of overheating
are we actually naked
We are not actually naked: same density of body hair as other apes our size
what is the difference between our body hair and other apes
Ours: fine and colourless - peach fuzz - rather than thick and dark
what animal has the largest brain
blue whale
do we have a large brain for our body size
yes
how much larger is our brain from a chimp
4x
who has the largest brain out of the hominids
neanderthals
how do we use tools
opposable thumbs
what other animals use tools
chimps and birds
