Exam review, Australopithecines (genus)

Question 1

what are the five australopithecine species

Answer 1

Au. anamensis
• Au. afarensis 
• Au. garhi 
• Au. africanus 
• Au. sediba

Question 2

where are the australopithecine species found

Answer 2

In East Africa:
Au. anamensis (4.2-‐3.9 mya)
• Au. afarensis (3.6-‐3.0 mya)
• Au. garhi (2.5 mya)
In Southern Africa:
• Au. africanus (3.0-‐2.2 mya)
• Au. sediba (1.98 mya)

Question 3

what is the date range for Au. anamensis

Answer 3

(4.2-‐3.9 mya)

Question 4

what is the date range for Au. afarensis

Answer 4

(3.6-‐3.0 mya)

Question 5

what is the date range for Au. garhi

Answer 5

(2.5 mya)

Question 6

what is the date range for Au africanus

Answer 6

(3.0-‐2.2 mya)

Question 7

what is the date range for Au. sediba

Answer 7

(1.98 mya)

Question 8

how are the Australopithecines beloved t be related to us

Answer 8

they are our direct ancestral line

Question 9

where was Australopithecus anamensis found

Answer 9

Kenya’s Great Rift Valley in 1994

Question 10

what is significant about the Lake Turkana area in Kenya and from Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Answer 10

more than 80 specimens from around 20 individuals have been recovered from the Lake Turkana area in Kenya and from Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Question 11

what is significant about Australopithecus anamensis cranial morphology

Answer 11

Molar rows are parallel, and the dental arcade is U‐shaped. Canine teeth are small
Dental enamel is thick

Question 12

what is important about the Post-‐Cranial Morphology of Australopithecus anamensis

Answer 12

proximal tibia shows signs of excess weight bearing. The distal tibia is wide and thick
strong climbing ability
femurs were angled

Question 13

Au. anamensis’ relationship to Ardipithecus is what

Answer 13

undetermined

Question 14

Most researchers believe Au. anamensis is a direct ancestor of who

Answer 14

Au. afarensis

Question 15

where was Au. afarensis found

Answer 15

a large number of individuals from sites in widely‐separated regions, from Laetoli in Tanzania, north to Hadar in Ethiopia

Question 16

what species is lucy

Answer 16

Au. afarensis

Question 17

what is the Cranial Morphology of Au. afarensis

Answer 17

relatively low (350– 500cc)

Question 18

what are the cranial traits of Au. afarensis

Answer 18

significant facial prognathism. The zygomatic arches are large and flaring
procumbent, relatively large incisors that were larger in males. The molar rows are parallel and the dental arcade is U- shaped. A diastema is present

Question 19

what is the Post-Cranial Morphology of Au. afarensis

Answer 19

obligate bipedalism

the ilia are flared outward

Question 20

where was Australopithecus garhi found

Answer 20

Bouri, Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Question 21

what was the cranial capacity of Australopithecus garhi

Answer 21

relatively low–~450cc

Question 22

what are the cranial morphologies of Australopithecus garhi

Answer 22

high degree of facial prognathism and a weak sagittal crest
very wide canine teeth
molars are very robust

Question 23

where were The earliest stone tools found

Answer 23

geological formation but not at the same place as the garhi skull
Bouri, Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Question 24

when did the earliest stone tools exist

Answer 24

2.5 mya

Question 25

where was Australopithecus africanus found

Answer 25

NW Province, South Africa

Question 26

what species is the Taung child

Answer 26

Au. africanus

Question 27

what are the traits of the Taung child

Answer 27

low facial prognatism
dental arcade is parabolic, or V-‐ shaped
canine teeth were small
no diastema
foramen magnum is positioned behind directly behind the mandible, like in humans
premolars are oddly large

Question 28

where was Australopithecus sediba found

Answer 28

idk, in a cave site in Malapa

Question 29

what species are the Malapa hominins

Answer 29

Australopithecus sediba

Question 30

what are key features about Australopithecus sediba

Answer 30

endocranial casts show that the two hemispheres of the brain are not symmetrical: this is a trait associated with the genus Homo
smaller zygomatic arches