Glossary 3061

Question 1

Anthropoids

Answer 1

A suborder of primates consisting of the Old World monkeys, the New World monkeys and the great apes

Question 2

Australopithecines (southern apes)

Answer 2

Early hominin species existing in Africa from about 4.5 million years ago to 2.5 million years ago

Question 3

Biological evolution

Answer 3

Any genetic change in a population that is inherited and passed on genetically from one generation to the next

Question 4

Cultural evolution

Answer 4

The transmission of ideas, knowledge, skills, tools and technology, language and art etc…. all of which is learned and not passed on genetically

Question 5

Fossils

Answer 5

The remains of an organism that have been preserved in rock. Fossils provide evidence of simpler and more ancient life forms that existed previously and show a progression in complexity showing that life has evolved over time

Question 6

Hominid

Answer 6

The group consisting of modern and extinct great apes - a group which includes modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orang-utans plus all their immediate ancestors

Question 7

Hominid

Answer 7

The group consisting of modern and extinct great apes - a group which includes modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and urang-utans plus their immediate ancestors.

Question 8

Hominin

Answer 8

The group consisting only of modern humans, human-like ancestors but also the chimpanzees

Question 9

Homo erectus

Answer 9

Early hominin species existing in Aftica from about 1.8 million years ago to about 300 000 years ago. This is the species that controlled fire and walked out of Africa

Question 10

Homo floresiensis

Answer 10

Early hominin species that lived about 18 000 years ago showing a mixture of primitive and advanced features, and may be a dwarf species that evolved from the earlier H. erectus.

Question 11

Homo habilis

Answer 11

Early hominin species existing in Africa from about 2.5 to about 1.6 million years ago and the earliest stone toolmaker.

Question 12

Homo habilis

Answer 12

Early hominin species existing in Africa from about 2.5 to 1.6 million years ago and the earliest stone toolmaker

Question 13

Homo heidelbergensis

Answer 13

Early hominin species thought to be an ancestor of the Neanderthals and modern humans

Question 14

Homo neanderthalensis

Answer 14

Early hominin species that existed in Europe from about 200 000 years ago to about 30 000 years ago. These people were thickset, muscular, and robust or stocky in build and were intelligent and resourceful and lived in social communities.

Question 15

Homo sapiens

Answer 15

Anatomically modern humans, the result of a long line of biological evolution.

Question 16

Homo sapiens idaltu

Answer 16

Early hominin species that may be the direct ancestor of modern humans as they are anatomically very similar to modern humans.

Question 17

Locomotion

Answer 17

The method of movement in animals, such as brachiation, quadrupedal walking, knuckle walking or bipedal walking.

Question 18

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Answer 18

DNA found in mitochondria, which is passed from mother to child and is used to track evolution through the maternal line.

Question 19

Paleoanthropology

Answer 19

The study of fossils in order to learn about the anatomy of older hominid species.

Question 20

Palaeontology

Answer 20

The study of fossils.

Question 21

Radiometric dating

Answer 21

Used to find out the age of fossils, using radioactive chemical elements (isotopes) that decay at constant rates.

Question 22

Primates

Answer 22

These are mammals with the following general features: they bear live young; they are warm-blooded (homeothermic); they suckle their young on milk secreted from mammary glands; they have hair and sweat glands; they have four types of teeth – incisors, canines, premolars and molars; and they have four-chambered hearts.

Question 23

Prosimians

Answer 23

A suborder of primates consisting of lorises and lemurs.

Question 24

Skeleton

Answer 24

The internal bone structure of animals that provides protection for internal organs and enables movement to take place.