Human Evolution and Ancestors Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a human ancestor prior to ape man?

Ramapithecus

Australopithecus (correct)

Proconsul

Dryopithecus

What is the scientific name of the 'Java man' and 'Peking man'?

Homo sapiens neanderthalensis

Homo sapiens fossilis

Homo habilis

Homo erectus (correct)

Which of the following is the most recent ancestor of modern humans?

Homo habilis

Homo erectus

Neanderthal man (correct)

Australopithecus

Which of the following is NOT a true human ancestor, as defined in the text?

Australopithecus Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific classification of the 'Proconsul'?

Cercopithecoids Signup and view all the answers

Based on the provided evolutionary tree, which primate is most closely related to modern humans?

Chimpanzee Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific name of 'Cro-magnon man'?

Homo sapiens fossilis Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered a significant amount of Proconsul fossils in Lake Victoria?

Mary Leakey Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a true human ancestor?

Proconsul Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated age of Homo habilis remains found in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya?

1.4 - 2.4 million years old Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate cranial capacity of Homo habilis?

700 cc Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a feature associated with Homo habilis?

Had a large brain size comparable to modern humans Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific name for Neanderthal man?

Homo sapiens neanderthalensis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is another name for Homo erectus?

Java man and Peking man Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the ape-like ancestor of humans that was classified as Australopithecus?

Australopithecus afarensis Signup and view all the answers

Which human ancestor is known as the 'handy man' due to their use of stone tools?

Homo habilis Signup and view all the answers

Which of these characteristics is NOT mentioned in the text as a feature of Homo Sapiens?

Development of advanced agriculture Signup and view all the answers

Based on the given information, Homo sapiens is characterized by a cranial capacity of approximately:

1600 cc Signup and view all the answers

The text mentions the term 'sapiens fossilis'. What is this term referring to?

An extinct species of hominid related to Homo sapiens Signup and view all the answers

The text suggests that different hominid species, such as Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens, have undergone:

Divergent evolution, developing distinct features due to various environmental pressures Signup and view all the answers

Based on the provided content, what is the main takeaway regarding the evolutionary trend of hominids?

Different hominid species co-existed and evolved at different times, with varying degrees of success Signup and view all the answers

What is the cranial capacity of Homo heidelbergensis?

1250 cc Signup and view all the answers

What are the estimated height ranges for Neanderthals?

5 – 5.2 ft Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following families includes Gibbons?

Hyalobatidae Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes New World monkeys from Old World monkeys in terms of infra-order classification?

Old World monkeys are classified under the infra-order Catarrhini. Signup and view all the answers

Which species is believed to have evolved into Neanderthals?

H. erectus Signup and view all the answers

What significant behavioral trait is attributed to Neanderthals?

Use of tools for hunting Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following primates is not classified as a New World monkey?

Orangutan Signup and view all the answers

Which superfamily do human beings belong to?

Hominoidea Signup and view all the answers

What factor is NOT considered a cause for the extinction of Neanderthals?

Overpopulation Signup and view all the answers

Which family includes gorillas and chimpanzees?

Hominidae Signup and view all the answers

What is the cranial capacity of Neanderthals?

1450 cc Signup and view all the answers

How tall was Homo heidelbergensis estimated to be?

5 ft to 5 ft 5 in Signup and view all the answers

In the order Primates, which infra-order includes the spider monkey?

Platyrrhini Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is correct regarding Neanderthal burial practices?

They made traditions around burying their dead. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the relationship between Hominoidea and Hominidae?

Hominidae is a family under the superfamily Hominoidea. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the infra-order Catarrhini?

Includes New World monkeys Signup and view all the answers

What book did T.H. Huxley write in 1863 AD to explain the origin and evolution of man?

Man's Place in Nature Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of anthropology?

The study of human behavior in relation to their environment Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Evolutionary Biology: Origin and Evolution of Man

Human evolution is studied through anthropology, focusing on human societies, cultures, biological and physiological characteristics, and their evolution.
An anthropologist studies elements of humans, including biology and culture, to understand human origins and the development of beliefs and social customs.
Fields of anthropology include cultural, physical, linguistic, and archaeology.
T.H. Huxley's "Man's Place in Nature" (1863) and Charles Darwin's "The Descent of Man" (1871) were significant early works on human evolution, although their ideas were controversial at the time.
Darwin's theory faced criticism from religious and metaphysical groups due to limited paleontological knowledge.
The order Primates, suborder Anthropoidea contains groups of monkeys: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) and Catarrhini (Old World monkeys).
New World monkeys are characterized by flat, outward-facing nostrils, long prehensile tails, and a dental formula of (2:1:3:3) x 4 = 36.
Old World monkeys have downward-facing nostrils, short tails, and a dental formula of (2:1:2:3) x 4 = 32.
New World monkeys reside in Central and South America. Old World monkeys reside in Asia and Africa.
Hominoids are divided into families: Hylobatidae (gibbons), Pongidae (great apes), and Hominidae (humans and ancestral fossils).
Key differences between New World and Old World monkeys include nose shape, tail presence/structure, and dental formula.
The evolutionary trend in humans involves bipedal locomotion, erect posture (due to lumbar curve development), increased brain size and complexity, loss of opposability in great toes, smaller canine and incisor teeth, smaller eyebrow ridges, and chin development.
Human ancestors include Proconsul, Dryopithecus, Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus, Australopithecus ( A. robustus and A. afarensis), Homo habilis, Homo erectus (Java and Peking man), Homo sapiens neanderthalensis (Neanderthal man), and Homo sapiens fossilis (Cro-Magnon man).
The order Homo, genus Homo, species sapiens, and subspecies sapiens define modern humans.
The modern human evolved approximately 10,000 years ago after the last glacial period with characteristics like lighter skeletal build and use of tools, fire, and crop cultivation.
Homo habilis, considered the "handy man", had a cranial capacity of around 700 cc, walked upright, weighed 45-50 kg, and used tools.
Homo erectus, including Java and Peking man, had a larger cranial capacity (850-1225 cc), walked fully upright, used fire, and had a more human-like body structure.
Homo heidelbergensis, the Heidelberg man, had a larger cranial capacity (1250 cc) than H. erectus and might have been an evolutionary stepping stone to Neanderthal man.
Neanderthals, H. sapiens neanderthalensis had a robust body, a cranial capacity of about 1450 cc, and used tools and animal hides for clothing.
Homo sapiens fossilis (Cro-Magnon) had a cranial capacity of 1600 cc, developed advanced tools, art, and culture, and lived in caves.
The differences in cranial capacity, limb proportions, and facial features highlight the evolutionary path from earlier hominids to modern humans.
There are significant differences in the anatomical features between Apes and Humans.
The most recent common ancestor between apes and humans is the subject of ongoing scientific research.
The study of human origins continues with ongoing discoveries and analyses of fossil records, DNA, and other evidence.
Human migration patterns are also a key part of understanding the species.

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Description

Test your knowledge on human evolution with this quiz that covers key ancestors and their scientific classifications. Questions range from the identification of true human ancestors to specific traits and historical discoveries. Perfect for anyone interested in anthropology and evolutionary biology.