Homonids (5)

Question 1

When and How did dinosaurs become extinct?

Answer 1

65 mya They couldn’t control their body temperatures so when the climate cooled, they died

Question 2

What is evolution?

Answer 2

Evolution is a gradual change in the features or characteristics of a species over time

Question 3

How does evolution happen? (4)

Answer 3

• Organisms that are adapted to environment survive and breed
• Genes will be passed onto offspring
• They compete with other individuals for space and food
• Survival of the fittest: individuals that are best adapted to their environment survive

Question 4

What happened after the next extinct (34 mya)?

Answer 4

Mammals started to evolve. Development of primates.

Question 5

What are primates?

Answer 5

A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans.

Question 6

What are the similarities between a human and a chimp? (3)

Answer 6

• Flat nails
• Stereoscopic and color vision
• Short snouts

Question 7

Hominin vs Hominid

Answer 7

Hominid – the group consisting of all modern and extinct Great Apes (that is, modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orang-utans plus all their immediate ancestors).

Hominin – the group consisting of modern humans, extinct human species and all our immediate ancestors (including members of the genera Homo, Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and Ardipithecus).

Question 8

__% of all fossils in Africa
relating to the origin of
humankind

They confirm that ___
originated in Africa

Answer 8

35

Human

Question 9

______ Africanus in
S.Africa (Mrs. Ples and Taung
child)

4-___ million years ago.

Answer 9

Australopithecus

2.6

Question 10

When did Homo sapiens occur?

Answer 10

800 000 years ago

Question 11

When did homo sapiens sapiens occur?

Answer 11

About 200 000 years ago Homo sapiens sapiens appeared.

Question 12

Who found the homo sapien fossil?

Answer 12

Found in Sterkfontein by Lee Burger.

Question 13

Physical features of Homo Sapiens. (5)

Answer 13

• Longer legs of fossil
• Small teeth
• Skull similar shape to Homo than Australopithecus
• Shape of foot and wrist – more modern and indicates bipedal lifestyle
• Small brain

Question 14

Why was bipedalism so important? (5)

Answer 14

• Could see over the savannah and be on the lookout for predators and food
• Make and use weapons, carry them long distances hunting
• Bring food home
• Carry and protect young children
• Carry things and migrate further

Question 15

Answer 15

Question 16

Compare the pelvic girdles of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans.

Answer 16

Human:

• Pelvis more bowl-shaped
• Supports leg and trunk in an upright position
• greater stability for walking and running

Australopithecus:

• Pelvis bowl-shaped: allowed for walking
  upright

Chimpanzees:

• Tall, narrow pelvis

Question 17

Compare the feet of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans.

Answer 17

Humans:

• Big toe in line with others: walked upright
• Human foot designed to support the whole weight of the body and for walking or running

Australopithecus:

• Big toe more in line with others: started
• to walk upright

Chimpanzees:

• Grabbing big toe: for climbing trees

Question 18

Compare how chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans walked.

Answer 18

Humans:

• Bipedal: walked upright

Australopithecus:

• Bipedal: walked upright

Chimpanzees:

• Walked on all 4s: quadruped

Question 19

Compare the facial structure of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans.

Answer 19

Humans:

• Flat face

Australopithecus:

• Long snout: prognathous

Chimpanzees:

• Long snout

Question 20

Compare the dental arc of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans.

Answer 20

Humans:

• Dental arc curved

Australopithecus:

• Dental arc slightly curved

Chimpanzees:

• Angular dental arc

Question 21

Compare the teeth of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans

Answer 21

Humans:

• Canines don’t protrude past other
  teeth

Australopithecus:

• Canines less prominent

Chimpanzees:

• Prominent canines

Question 22

Compare the teeth of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans. (A diastema is a space or gap between two teeth)

Answer 22

Humans:

• No diastema

Australopithecus:

• No diastema

Chimpanzees:

• Diastema

Question 23

Compare the cranium of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans.

Answer 23

Humans:

• Large cranium
• Larger brain capacity
• Foramen magnum more centrally positioned under the skull, spine connects with skull underneath, so head is held firmly upright

Australopithecus:

• Bigger cranium

Chimpanzees:

• Smaller cranium
• Smaller brain capacity
• Foramen magnum at rear of skull

Question 24

Compare the foramen magnum of chimpanzees, Australopithecus, and humans. (the hole in the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes)

Answer 24

Humans:

• Foramen magnum more to the
  front

Australopithecus:

• Foramen magnum to the front

Chimpanzees:

• Foramen magnum at the back of
  skull

Question 25

What did a larger brain mean? (2)

Answer 25

• More intelligence so language development
• Formation of culture and tribalism

Question 26

What was Australopithecus?

Answer 26

Australopithecus, which means “southern ape”, was actually an upright-walking hominid with human-like teeth and hands. Its main ape-like features were a small brain, flattened nose region and forward-projecting jaws