Fossil evidence Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is a hominin?
A group including modern and early humans.
What is the difference between genus and species?
Genus is a group of related species; species can interbreed and have fertile offspring.
What does “Australopithecus” mean?
Southern ape.
What does “Homo sapiens” mean?
Wise human.
What does the name Ardipithecus ramidus mean?
Ground root – referring to early human origins.
Which hominin is associated with the Laetoli footprints?
Australopithecus afarensis.
Who discovered Lucy and what species was she?
Donald Johansen; Australopithecus afarensis.
What made Australopithecus sediba special?
Possibly an ancestor of Homo; discovered by Lee Berger.
What is a key trait of genus Homo?
Larger brains (30% bigger than Australopithecus).
Who discovered Homo habilis and what tools are they linked with?
Louis and Mary Leakey; Oldowan tools.
Which species was the first to use fire and hand axes?
Homo erectus.
What is the brain size of Homo sapiens?
Between 1200 and 1800 mL.
How genetically similar are humans and chimpanzees?
98.8%.
What does mitochondrial DNA help scientists determine?
When species split in evolution.
What is meant by “evolution is a bush, not a ladder”?
Evolution has branching paths, not a straight line.
What tools came after Oldowan tools?
Hand axes (1.7 mya), then flakes and blades (later Homo species).
What tools came after Oldowan tools?
Hand axes (1.7 mya), then flakes and blades (later Homo species).
What cultural developments aided human evolution?
Fire use, tool-making, and art
When did humans start creating art?
Around 100,000 years ago.
What role did art possibly play in human evolution?
Bonded people and helped with group survival.
