Human Evolution: Ancestry and Major Transitions

Homo sapiens

Modern human species, known for advanced cognition.

Ancestry

Lineage tracing back to early human ancestors.

Out of Africa

Migration of humans from Africa to other regions.

Hominin

Group including modern humans and their ancestors.

Australopithecus afarensis

Early bipedal ancestor, known from 'Lucy' fossil.

Homo habilis

Early human species, known as 'Handy man'.

Homo erectus

First hominin to leave Africa, used fire.

Homo neanderthalensis

Neanderthals, coexisted with early Homo sapiens.

Homo floresiensis

Small human species, known as 'Hobbit people'.

Bipedalism

Ability to walk on two legs, key adaptation.

Gracile

Refers to slender, lighter-bodied hominins.

Robust

Refers to heavier, more muscular hominins.

Paleolithic age

Period marked by the use of stone tools.

Cooking

Process that enhances food safety and energy extraction.

Mosaic evolution

Evolutionary process with traits appearing at different times.

Melanin

Pigment responsible for skin color and UV protection.

Intra-specific variation

Variability within a species due to environmental adaptation.

Dominance hierarchies

Social structure observed in many primate species.

Prehensile tails

Tail adapted for grasping, found in New World monkeys.

Neanderthal tools

More complex tools than those of Homo erectus.

Fossil evidence

Remains used to trace evolutionary history.

Cultural advancements

Developments in tools, art, and social structures.

Brain size

Increased brain size linked to dietary changes.

Amenorrhea

Condition affecting menstruation in raw foodists.

Digestive tract

Adapted for cooked food, smaller than great apes.

Social behaviors

Complex interactions observed in primate groups.

Burial practices

Evidence of ritualistic behavior in Neanderthals.

Language

Advanced communication linked to brain wiring in humans.

Energy extraction

Efficiency of obtaining energy from cooked food.

UV light

Ultraviolet radiation affecting skin color adaptation.

Spinal adaptations

Changes in vertebral structure affecting human posture.

Epiglottis

Flap preventing food from entering the windpipe.

Larynx

Voice box, positioned differently in humans.

Human variation

Differences in physical traits based on environment.

Colony size

Chimpanzees require larger food intake than humans.

Skull morphology

Differences in skull structure between hominin species.

Hominidae

Family including great apes and humans.

Primates

Order of mammals including humans and their relatives.

Eukaryota

Domain of complex cellular organisms.

Chordata

Phylum including vertebrates and some invertebrates.

Metazoa

Kingdom of multicellular animals.

Theria

Subclass of mammals that bear live young.

Sarcopterygii

Class of lobe-finned fishes, ancestors to tetrapods.

Tetrapoda

Superclass of four-limbed vertebrates.

Haplorrhini

Suborder of primates including tarsiers and monkeys.

Catarrhini

Infraorder of Old World monkeys and apes.

Hominoidea

Superfamily including apes and humans.

Eutheria

Clade of mammals with placental development.

Euarchontoglires

Clade including primates and rodents.

Fungi/Metazoa group

Early evolutionary split leading to animals.

Coelomata

Organisms with a body cavity.

Deuterostomia

Embryonic development where the anus forms first.

Gnathostomata

Jawed vertebrates, including all modern fish.

Teleostomi

Group of bony fish, ancestors of terrestrial vertebrates.

Vertebrata

Subphylum including all vertebrates.

Craniata

Subphylum including animals with a skull.

Homininae

Subfamily including humans and their closest relatives.

Simiiformes

Infraorder of primates including monkeys and apes.