1.6.3 Human Evolution: The Fossil Record

Question 1

note

Answer 1

• About 35 million years ago (mya), anthropoids split into two groups: monkeys and apes.
• Humans evolved from ground-dwelling, bipedal australopithecine ancestors.
• There are at least three species (possibly six) in the genus Homo.
• Human evolution is characterized by decreasing jaw size and increasing brain size.

Question 2

Ramapithecus

Answer 2

• dated from 15–18 mya.

- The genus is believed to display ancestral characteristics of early apes, including a shortened muzzle.

Question 3

“Lucy” is a well-known fossil that represents the first human ancestor known to have walked erect. She is part of the genus

Answer 3

• Australopithecus

Question 4

Australopithecines are significant because

Answer 4

• they walked on two feet

Question 5

At about 35 million years ago

Answer 5

• the monkey and ape lineages diverged

Question 6

The first Homo sapiens included two groups. The __________ were an early group of humans with short, sturdy builds and heavy brow ridges. The first modern humans emerged approximately 100,000 years ago and are called the __________.

Answer 6

• Neanderthals, Cro-Magnons

Question 7

Homo neanderthalensis lived as recently as

Answer 7

• 25,000 years ago