Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic of the skull of Homo erectus?
What is a characteristic of the skull of Homo erectus?
Which hominid had large canines and a sectorial pre-molar tooth?
Which hominid had large canines and a sectorial pre-molar tooth?
Who discovered the 'Taung Baby' specimen in South Africa?
Who discovered the 'Taung Baby' specimen in South Africa?
Which species had a bowl-shaped pelvis and platform foot?
Which species had a bowl-shaped pelvis and platform foot?
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What distinguishes Homo habilis from Homo erectus?
What distinguishes Homo habilis from Homo erectus?
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Which species is characterized by having a high vault and post-orbital expansion?
Which species is characterized by having a high vault and post-orbital expansion?
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What is one of the main traits of a hominin?
What is one of the main traits of a hominin?
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Where is the Forum Magnum located in the human skull?
Where is the Forum Magnum located in the human skull?
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What is the cranial capacity of Australopithecus Africanus?
What is the cranial capacity of Australopithecus Africanus?
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What is the significance of the small mastoid process in Modern Homo sapiens sapiens?
What is the significance of the small mastoid process in Modern Homo sapiens sapiens?
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Which feature is NOT characteristic of Modern Homo sapiens sapiens' skull morphology?
Which feature is NOT characteristic of Modern Homo sapiens sapiens' skull morphology?
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What adaptation is specifically associated with hominins?
What adaptation is specifically associated with hominins?
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Study Notes
Australopithecus
- Characterized by a flat spot behind the eyes, known as a sulcus
- Supra orbital torus, a bar of bone above the eyes
- Skull is widest below the eyes
- Occipital torus, a small cranial capacity
- Large canines with a diastema, a space for canines to interlock
- Sectorial pre-molar, a tooth made of pulp covered in enamel coating
- U-shaped mandible jaw with no chin
- Arms are longer than legs
- Flang pelvis and mobile foot
- Exhibited bipedality, with a foramen magnum located centrally
- Large mastoid process
Homo
- High vaulted skull, with a post-orbital expansion
- No crest or marked muscle attachment
- Skull is widest at the top
- No occipital torus
- Large cranial capacity
- Small canines with no diastema
- No sectorial pre-molar, but molars with thick enamel
- Parabolic-shaped mandible with a well-developed chin
- Legs are longer than arms
- Bowl pelvis and platform foot
- Exhibited bipedality, with a foramen magnum located centrally
Fossil Discoveries
- Eugene Dubois discovered a skull cap and femur in Java, Indonesia, and named it Pithecanthropus erectus (1.8 million years ago)
- Raymond Dart discovered the Taung Baby, a fossil of Australopithecus africanus in South Africa
- Robert Broom discovered an adult Australopithecus africanus in South Africa, dated to 3-2 million years ago
- Davison Black discovered Sinanthropus pekinsus in Beijing, China, dated to 400,000 years ago
- Lewis Leakey discovered Paranthropus boisei in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, East Africa
- Richard Leakey discovered a skull, KNMWT, and Mary Leakey discovered footprints in Lateoli, Tanzania
- Don Johanson discovered a 40% complete skeleton, named Lucy, which was later reconstructed by Tim White, and found to be an Australopithecus afarensis
- Johanson also discovered a group of 13 skeletons, showing sexual dimorphism
Homo Evolution
- Homo erectus was found in the Republic of Georgia, dated to 1.7 million years ago
- Homo ergaster was found in Dmanisi, and is considered an early form of Homo erectus
- Homo erectus was also found in Lake Turkana, dated to 1.7 million years ago
- Homo habilis was found in South Africa, dated to 2.8-1.4 million years ago
- Homo heidelbergensis was found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, dated to 800,000-300,000 years ago
- Out of Africa theory proposes that all modern humans are related to the African group from 140,000-130,000 years ago
- Mitochondrial Eve is the proposed common ancestor of all modern humans
Hominin Traits
- Brain enlargement and reorganization
- Dental anatomy (2-1-2-3)
- Obligate bipedalism
Hominin Classification
- Hominin: all living humans and their ancestors
- Hominid: all modern and extinct great apes
- Hominoid: all living humans, apes, and their ancestors
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Description
Test your knowledge on the evolution of humans, focusing on the traits and classifications of hominins, hominids, and hominoids. Learn about the development of the brain, skull regions, and cultural adaptation.
