FINAL Review Flashcards
(114 cards)
1
Q
Opposable Thumbs
A
Refers to primates thumb, in that it can touch each of the four fingertips, enabling a grasping ability (both power and precision grips)
2
Q
Diurnal
A
Refers to those organisms that normally are awake and active during day-light hours
3
Q
Dental formula
A
the numerical description of a species teeth, listing the number, in one quadrant of the jaws, of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars
4
Q
Tooth comb
A
Anterior teeth (incisors and canines) that have been tilted forward, creating a scraper
5
Q
Prehensile tail
A
a tail that acts as a kind of hand for support in trees, common in New World Monkeys
6
Q
Brachiators
A
organisms that move by brachiation, or arm-swinging
7
Q
Polygynous
A
a diffrence in a physical attribute between members of a species
8
Q
Dimorphism
A
a diffence in a physical attribute between members of a species
9
Q
Polyandrous
A
refers to a social group that includes one reproductively active female, several adult makes, and their offspring
10
Q
Sexual selection
A
the frequency of traits that change due to those traits attractiveness to members of the opposite sex
11
Q
Kin selection
A
Altruistic behaviors that increase the donor’s inclusive fitness, that is, the fitness of the donor’s relatives
12
Q
Bilophodont molars
A
refers to lower molars, in Old World Monkeys, that have two ridges
13
Q
Y-5 Molars
A
hominoids pattern of lower molar cusps
14
Q
Habituation
A
you transform their (primates) behavior by making them tolerate your presence
15
Q
Phylogeny
A
Evolutionary relationships among organisms; important basis for identifying and classifying organisms
16
Q
Taxonomy
A
the classification of organisms into a system that reflects degree of relatedness
17
Q
Analogous characters
A
Similar traits due to convergent evolution, not genetic relation
18
Q
Homologous characters
A
Similar traits due to common descent
19
Q
Ancestral characters
A
Homologous characters that appear early in the evolution of a lineage
20
Q
Derived characters
A
Homologous traits that appear later in the evolution of a lineage
21
Q
Anthropoidea
A
Includes both Platyrrhines (New World Monkeys) and Catarrhines (Old World Monkeys); exhibit larger brains, higher levels of sexual dimorphism, more social complexity, enclosed bony eye-sockets, and fewer teeth
22
Q
Prosimian
A
Suborder of primates that exhibit a large reliance on sense of smell, have a combination of nails ad claws, lack complex social behaviors, are mostly nocturnal, and most have tooth combs
23
Q
Catarrhine
A
(an infraorder); category pertains to Old World Monkeys and Apes. It is characterized by a wide range of habitats throughout Africa and Asia, but mostly live in tropics or subtropics. The primates in this group can be either terrestrial or arboreal
24
Q
Platyrrhine
A
(an infraorder); category of New World Monkeys, word stems from “flat nose” these monkeys are found in the New World (Americas), and spend a lot of time in the trees. New World Monkeys are the only group that can exhibit prehensile tails. Their dental formula is 2133, with an extra premolar compared to catarrhines
25
Hominoid
(superfamily); includes lesser and Great Apes; no members of this group have tails
26
Folivore
a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves
27
Fossil
Remains of once-living organisms that have wholly or partially transformed into rock through a long process of chemical replacement
28
Taphonomy
The study of the deposition of plant or animal remains and the environment condition affecting their preservation
29
Stenod Law of Superposition
The principle that the lower in stratum, the older the age of each successive layer
30
Relative Dating
The arrangement of artifacts or events in a sequence relative to one another but without ties to calendrically measures time
31
Absolute Dating
The determination of the age of an object with reference to a specific timescale, such as a fixed calendar or in years before present (BP), based on measurable physical or chemical qualities or associations with written records; also called chronometric dating
32
Generic Dating
Method of dating using DNA in order to determine a chronology showing the amount of time since two species diverged in their evolution (the molecular clock)
33
Arboreal Hypothesis
The proposition that primates unique suite of traits is an adaptation to living in trees
34
Visual Predation Hypothesis
The proposition that unique primate traits arose as adaptations to prying on insects and small animals
35
Angiosperm Radiation Hypothesis
The proposition that certain primate traits occurred in response to the availability of fruit and flowers following the spread of angiosperms
36
Sivapithecus
A genus of Miocene apes thought to be ancestral orangutans
37
Gigantopithecus
A genus of Miocene apes from Asia, the largest primate that ever lived
38
Honing complex in apes
The dental form in which the upper canines are sharpened against the lower third premolars when the jaws are opened and closed
39
Piltdown Hoax
Hoax in which bone fragments of a modern ape paired with human skull were passed off as evidence of the earliest human ancestor as a “missing link”
40
Oldowan Complex
2.5 mya, the stone tool culture associated with late gracile and robust australopithecines and early Genus Homo
- includes primitive chopper tools (cores, flakes, and hammerstones). Used for hunting, confrontational scavenging, and passive scavenging
41
Acheulean Complex
1.5 mya - 250 kya, the stone tool culture associated with Homo erectus, including handaxes and other types of stone tools; more refined than the earlier Oldowan tools
42
Handaxe
The most dominant tool in the Acheulean complex, bifacial symmetrically worked pear-shaped stone tool characterized by a sharp edge for both cutting and scraping
43
Wallace Line
Deep water trench representing an abrupt limit of distribution for many major animal groups including Homo erectus
44
Movius Line
a theoretical line proposed by Movius; the limits of Acheulean handaxe technology; likely bamboo or other perishable tool technologies on the other side of this line
45
Mousterian Tools
the stone tool culture in which Neandertals produced tools using the Levallois technique
46
Levallois Technique
a distinctive method of stone tool production used during the Middle Paleolithic, in which the core was prepared and flakes removed from the surface before the final tool was detached from the core
47
Upper Paleolithic
Refers to the most recent part of the Old Stone Age, associated with early modern Homo sapiens and characterized by micro-blades and composite tools and other types of tools with various functions worked from bone and antler
48
Homo floresiensis
Nicknamed "the Hobbit" because of its small size, possibly a new species of Homo found on the Indonesian island of Flores
49
Kennewick Man
skeletal remains of a Paleoindian found in Washington State and is at the center of controversy over cultural descendant versus scientific rights
50
Clovis culture
Earliest Native American culture of North America: stone tool technology known for large, fluted, bifacial stone projectile points used as spear points for big game hunting
51
Domestication
The process of converting wild animals or wild plants into forms that humans can care for and cultivate
52
Dental caries
A disease process that creates demineralized areas in dental tissues, that lead to cavities
53
Cribra Orbitalia
porosity (sponginess) in the eye orbits due to anemia caused by iron deficient diet, parasite infection, or genetic disease
54
Porotic Hyperostosis
Expansion and porosity of the cranial bones due to anemia caused by iron deficient diet, parasite infection, or genetic disease
55
Treponematoses
A group of related diseases caused by the bacteria Treponema which causes pathological changes most often to the cranium
56
Periosteal reaction
Inflammatory response of a bone's outer covering due to bacterial infection or to trauma
57
What are the three major adaptive tendencies shared by primates?
arboreal adaptations, dietary plasticity, and high level of parental investment
58
How the arboreal adaptation in primates has shaped their vision
primates have their eyes rotated forward to the front of their heads, and as a result, the visual fields of the eyes overlap. Primates also have color vision, which is imperative for spotting insects and prey within the surrounding vegetation. With our increased reliance on vision, we also developed fully enclosed eye orbits (except for prosimians).
59
How the arboreal adaptation in primates has shaped their hands
Primate hands are also highly developed for arboreal locomotion. One of the most important attributes is the opposable thumbs and toes (in non-human primates); the opposable thumb helps primates have many types of grips (precision and power). Primates also have an enhanced sense of touch increased by the dermal ridges on the surfaces of feet and hands, and the presence of nails help to spread out the forces exerted on primate hands from gripping.
60
How the arboreal adaptation in primates has shaped their spines
The spines of primates are highly flexible, allowing for a wide range of movement. Because the spine is highly flexible, we can bend, twist, and stretch in order to strategically move through the trees.
61
How the arboreal adaptation in primates has shaped their hind limbs
Primates also exhibit hindlimb dominated locomotion, focusing a lot of the load bearing on the hindlimbs, making it easier to use primate upper limbs for other tasks
62
What are the two major ways scientists observe non-human primate behavior?
Scientists observe non-human primate behavior in primate fieldwork (out in the field) or from captive studies (within a lab).
63
Advantages of Primate Fieldwork
observe in the most normal conditions possible
64
Advantages of Captive Studies
* Cheap
* Convenient
* Animals are always there and do not flee
* Controlled experimental conditions
65
Disadvantages of Primate Fieldwork
* 'naturalness' is an illusion
* Can cause habituation for the primates
* Generally hard working conditions
* Issues of placement, protection, support, and physical geography
* Animals are hard to locate
* Need several years of data to get enough information
* Expensive
66
Disadvantages of Captive Studies
* Primates may be from very different wild conspecifics:
o Could be provisioned, meaning exercising less and eating more than in normal conditions
o Social group size is often determined by number of animals in the zoo
o Intensive human interaction can teach animals behaviors not found in the wild
67
Boundary Maintenance
using vocalization to maintain boundaries of the group's living area to keep others out or warn others about crossing into the area controlled by another primate or group of primates
68
Predator Warnings
using vocalizations to let others know about predators and keep the group safe in some way or warn of danger; example: Diana monkeys in Cote d'Ivoire having a different predator warning as determined by if the predator is terrestrial or aerial
69
In which types of groups do we see the biggest difference is sizes between males and females?
single-male (multi-female) groupings and multi-male (multi-female) groupings of primates.
70
Explain the relationship between sexual dimorphism and mate competition.
In primate groups where there is a lot of mate competition, sexual dimorphism (in body size and canine size) will be more pronounced. This reflects the fact that to compete for females successfully, males must be big and aggressive. In populations with low levels of mate competition, features are not as dimorphic because there is less need to exert bodily energy for these characteristics.
71
How does a living organism come to be preserved as a fossil?
The organism must be buried shortly after death in an anaerobic environment (or one as close to anaerobic as possible) to retard the process of bacterial decay, in soils that are non-acidic, and areas where there is limited geologic activity
72
How are fossils discovered by modern humans and why are fossils discoveries so rare?
Most often, fossils are found as the result of archaeological excavations (digging them up) at locations often revealed by forces of geologic erosion allowing scientists to somewhat accurately date through stratigraphic analysis. Short of ideal geologic conditions, finding fossils is an extremely difficult process given Steno's Law and the fact that to get to very old materials one must dig through many layers of stratigraphy to get to areas where the fossils lay.
73
Stratigraphic Correlation
Relative Dating Method
Rocks and Fossils in layers of strata of earth
Present to millions of years in the pas
74
Dendrochronology
Absolute Dating Method
Tree rings
Present to 8,000 to 10,000 years ago
75
Radiocarbon Dating
Absolute Dating Method
Organic material
50,000 years ago to about 1950
76
Electron Spin Resonance Dating
Absolute Dating Method
Fossilized bones and teeth
A few thousand to more than a million years ago
77
Paleomagnetic Dating
Absolute Dating Method
Sedimentary and igneous rock containing metal grains
Present to several million years ago
78
Radiopotassium Dating
Absolute Dating Method
Volcanic rock and ash
200,000 to several million years ago
79
When did MAMMAL ancestors with the distinctive features of this group emerge?
emerge in the Mesozoic (Cretaceous Period) * Therapsids: Small (mouse size) * Larger brains relative to reptiles esp. the cerebrum * Endothermic * Viviparous * Heterodont
80
When did PRIMATE ancestors with the distinctive features of this group emerge?
(~66 Mya Eocene) Pleisadapiformes (Purgatorius)* Teeth suggest diet of insects and fruit - Very anatomically primitive features: * Claws, no opposable big toe, small brain, no postorbital bar, large rodent-like incisors
81
When did PROSIMIAN ancestors with the distinctive features of this group emerge?
(~60 Mya Eocene) - Adapids: somewhat squirrel-like in size and appearance - grasping hands and feet -brains and eyes were becoming larger
82
When did ANTHROPOIDEA ancestors with the distinctive features of this group emerge?
(32- 29 Mya Eocene) - Omomyids, Eosimians (Aegyptopithecus): anatomy of jaw, teeth and tarsal bones suggest anthropoid * Dental formula: 2123 * Sagittal crest * Larger brain * Arboreal quadruped
83
When did PLATYRRHINE ancestors with the distinctive features of this group emerge?
(~26 Mya late Oligocene) - Branisella: Characterized by a combination of 3 premolar and 3 upper molars with a four-cusp chewing surface
84
When did HOMINOIDEA ancestors with the distinctive features of this group emerge?
(~22-17 Mya Miocene) - Proconsulids (Morotopithecus) Y-5 molars, somewhat short stiff backs, suspensory shoulder, a small brain, and a diet of leaves and other vegetation
85
When did HOMINID ancestors with the distinctive features of this group first emerge?
(5-6 Mya Pliocene) -Ardipithecus, Sahelanthropus, Orrorin: bipedal, large brains, material culture, prolonged fetal dependence, slow development, thick tooth enamel, small canines, large molars
86
"Schlepping" hypothesis
bipedalism allowed for the freeing up of the hands for caring stuff including food, tools and offspring
87
Long view hypothesis
bipedalism allowed for individuals to see over tall grasses and through tress in order to locate prey as well as potential predators
88
Heat dissipation hypothesis
bipedalism allowed for a more efficient means of heat distribution and dissipation which provided for greater energy efficiency
89
What are the two aspects of hominid evolution that come into a conflict referred to as the "obstetric dilemma?"
a larger brain (large brains need big heads) and a narrow pelvis (needed for obligate bipedalism).
90
What is one of the ways that the "obstetric dilemma is solved in humans?
more altricial newborns (early births)
91
What are four qualities that predispose some animals for domestication?
1 Flexible diet
2 Reasonably fast growth rate
3 Ability to breed in captivity
4 Pleasant disposition
5 Temperament not given to panic
92
When during the fossil record do we start seeing significant expansion in cranial capacity?
Large, gradual increases in brain size began with the emergence of the genus Homo in the Pleistocene.
93
Give 2 examples of ways that the fossils in Asia and Africa that are contemporary to the Neandertals differ from these fossil Europeans.
smaller brow ridges and non-projecting mid-face.
94
Prosimian Dvision
*Reliance on sense of smell
*Lack of complex social behavioral patterns
*Mostly nocturnal
*Tooth comb
*Propithecus, Indri,
*Daubentonia, Tarsius
95
Platyrhinne Division
New World Monkeys
*"Flat Noses"
*Arboreal
*Prehensile tails
Ateles, Alouatta,
Callithrix,
Leontopithecus
96
Cercopithecoid Division
*Old World Monkeys (Africa, Asia, Europe)
*Non-prehensile tails
*Some arboreal, some terrestrial
*Ischial tuberosity: butt pad
*Papio, Pilicolobus, Chlorocebus,
* Macaca
97
Hominoid Division
*Lesser and Great Apes
*No tails
*Rotationing, suspensory shoulders for brachiating
*Social complexity
*Hylobates, Pongo, Gorilla, Pan
98
Adaptive radiation
Caused by mutations and this mutation causes the population with the new mutations to flourish
EX: different species of finches all derived from a single common ancestor
99
Hominid Timeline
Pliopithecus
Australopithecus
Homo Erectus
Early Homo Sapiens
Neanderthal
Modern Homo Sapiens
100
Monkeys vs Apes:
Apes:
larger
Vertical posture
No tail
Bigger brain
Grow slow
Narrow shoulder
Y-5 molar
Monkeys:
Many interspecies because they grow faster
Smaller
Vertical posture
Tail
Smaller brain
Grow faster
Broader shoulder
Bilophodont molar
101
Neandertal admixture is present in modern Human genes today
true
102
The Out of Africa model presumes H. Sapien evolved from local H. erectus population
false
103
Homo Erectus is NOT found in
new world- brazil
104
Acheulean tools are associated with
homo erectus
105
Neandertal have a wide nasal aperture
true
106
Neandertal are adapted to warm climate
true
107
Neandertal associated with mousterian tools
true
108
Old World Monkeys dental formula
2-1-2-3
109
New World Monkeys dental formula
2-1-3-3 or 2-1-2-3
110
Apes and Humans dental formula
2-1-2-3
111
Prosimians except tarsiers
2-1-3-3
112
Tarsiers
top: 2-1-3-3
Bottom: 1-1-3-3
113
Cenezoic era (P.E.O.M)
Palocene, Ecocene, Oligocene, Miocene
114
Cenozoic era
Paleocene era
Eocene epoch
Oligocene epoch
Miocene epoch
Cenozoic era (65 Mya to present)
Paleocene era (65-55 Mya)
Eocene epoch (55-35 Mya)
Oligocene epoch (35-25 Mya)
Miocene epoch (25-05 Mya
