BIO A 201 - 11.10.25 Fossil Hominins and the Genus Homo - Week 8 Flashcards 1

Niacin gap

A nutritional deficiency related to Vitamin B3 that can impact health.

Hominins

The group that includes modern humans and our closest extinct relatives.

Cranial drawings

Illustrations that depict the structure of the skulls of different species.

Tool assemblage

The collection of tools used by a particular hominin species.

Bipedalism

The ability to walk on two legs, a significant trait in human evolution.

Technologies

The use of tools and methods developed by hominins.

Cranial capacity

The volume of the cranium, used to estimate brain size.

Australopithecus afarensis

An early hominin species known for its bipedalism and small brain.

Foramen magnum

The opening in the skull where the spinal cord connects to the brain; its position affects locomotion.

Molar enamel

The covering on the molars that affects durability and longevity of teeth.

Prehensile foot

A foot adapted for grasping, characteristic of some ape-like ancestors.

Thermal regulation hypothesis

A theory suggesting that bipedalism helps with temperature control in hot environments.

Kenyathropus

A proposed genus that may include some Australopithecus specimens with distinct characteristics.

Postorbital constriction

The narrowing of the skull behind the eye sockets, related to muscle attachment for chewing.

Dental arcade

The arrangement of teeth in the mouth, which can indicate dietary habits.

Flared ilium

A pelvic characteristic seen in bipedal organisms facilitating walking.

Ardipithecus ramidus

An early bipedal hominin species from East Africa, noteworthy for its combined ape-like and human-like traits.

Genus Homo

A genus that appears around 2.8 million years ago in East Africa, distinguished by a larger brain and more modern dentition compared to Australopithecines.

Homo habilis

An early species of the Genus Homo, often associated with the Oldowan tool culture.

Homo erectus

A hominin species that appeared around 1.9 million years ago and was the first to leave Africa, exhibiting more advanced tool use and social behaviors.

Oldowan tools

The earliest known stone tools, associated with Homo habilis and other early hominins.

Acheulean industry

A prehistoric stone tool tradition associated with Homo erectus, characterized by bifaces and hand axes.

Dmanisi

An archaeological site in Georgia where some of the oldest Homo erectus fossils outside of Africa were found, dating to 1.8 million years ago.

Ileret footprints

Fossilized footprints attributed to Homo erectus, dated to about 1.5 million years ago in Kenya.

Turkana Boy

A nearly complete skeleton of a Homo ergaster or Homo erectus youth, dating to 1.6 million years ago, known for its modern human-like body proportions.

Bipedalism

The ability to walk on two legs, a key characteristic of hominins, including Homo erectus.

Control of fire

A significant development in early hominins, providing warmth, food preparation, and possibly social gathering.

Homo heidelbergensis

A species from the late Middle Pleistocene, believed to be a common ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans, known for its large brain and advanced tool use.

Homo floresiensis

A small-bodied hominin species known as 'Hobbits,' found in Indonesia and dated to 16-17 thousand years ago.

Pleistocene climate

A period characterized by ice ages, significant climate variability, and the emergence of modern human features.

Neanderthals

An archaic human species that lived in Eurasia, known for their robust build and adaptation to cold environments.

Denisovans

A newly identified group of archaic humans known from a few fossil remains, believed to have coexisted with both Neanderthals and modern humans.