human evolution Flashcards
(9 cards)
What are hominids?
A biological group including humans, our ancestors, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans (great apes).
What are hominins?
A subgroup of hominids that includes only modern humans and their early ancestors.
What does the term Homo mean?
It’s Latin for “human.”
What does Homo sapiens mean?
“Wise human”; all living humans belong to this species.
What are primates?
A group that includes lemurs, baboons, chimpanzees, apes, and humans, sharing traits like forward-facing eyes and opposable thumbs.
What is a phylogenetic diagram?
A branching tree showing evolutionary relationships among species.
What does the root and tip of a phylogenetic tree represent?
The root is the common ancestor; the tips are the descendants.
What does a branch on a phylogenetic tree represent?
A speciation event where one species gives rise to two or more.
What does belonging to the family Hominidae indicate?
That humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans share a common ancestor.
