Human Taxonomy & Evolution Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering taxonomic ranks, key evolutionary terms, major Homo species, anatomical features, and common misconceptions about human evolution.

Taxonomy

The scientific system of classifying organisms and showing their evolutionary relationships.

Eukarya

Domain of life whose organisms possess membrane-bound nuclei and organelles.

Animalia

Kingdom comprising multicellular, heterotrophic organisms that develop from embryos and lack cell walls.

Chordata

Phylum whose members possess a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and post-anal tail at some stage.

Mammalia

Class of warm-blooded vertebrates with hair and mammary glands that nourish young with milk.

Primates

Order that includes monkeys, apes, and humans; characterized by grasping hands, binocular vision, and large brains.

Hominidae

Family of the great apes—gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and humans.

Homo

Genus that contains modern humans and several extinct relatives such as H. erectus and H. neanderthalensis.

Homo sapiens

Species name of modern humans; Latin for “wise man.”

Homo sapiens sapiens

The only surviving subspecies of H. sapiens— anatomically modern humans.

Homo sapiens idaltu

Extinct subspecies of H. sapiens identified from Ethiopian fossils ~160,000 years old.

Homo habilis

Earliest known species of Homo; name means “handy man”; maker of Oldowan tools (~2.4–1.5 mya).

Homo erectus

Extinct human ancestor (~1.9 mya–200 kya); first to control fire and spread beyond Africa.

Homo heidelbergensis

Likely common ancestor of Neanderthals and humans; lived 600–200 kya with large brain capacity.

Homo neanderthalensis

Neanderthals; Eurasian hominins 200–35 kya with sophisticated tools and 1–2 % DNA in non-Africans.

Cro-Magnon

Early European population of H. sapiens (40–10 kya) known for robust build and advanced art.

Homo naledi

Small-brained South African Homo species displaying surprisingly complex behavior.

Homo floresiensis

Indonesian “hobbit” species about 1 m tall that lived until ~50 kya.

Homo luzonensis

Recently discovered species from the Philippines, distinct yet small-bodied.

Homo longi

Nicknamed “Dragon Man”; possible new East Asian human species with massive skull.

Denisovans

Archaic humans known mainly from DNA; interbred with modern humans and Neanderthals.

Tabon Man

Oldest confirmed modern human in the Philippines (37–47 kya) found in Palawan.

Oldowan Tools

Simple stone flakes produced by H. habilis; earliest known stone technology.

Acheulean Tools

Bifacial hand-axes and cleavers crafted by H. erectus and later hominins.

Bipedalism

Habitual upright walking on two legs; unique in its full form to humans among hominids.

Opposable Thumb

Digit arrangement allowing precise grasping; highly developed in humans for tool use.

Binocular Vision

Forward-facing eyes providing overlapping fields for depth perception.

Large Brain-to-Body Ratio

Characteristic of primates, especially humans, supporting advanced cognition.

Extended Parental Care

Long developmental period with intensive care typical of primates and pronounced in humans.

Pharyngeal Slits

Embryonic openings in chordates that form ear and throat structures in humans.

Notochord

Flexible embryonic rod that becomes the vertebral column in vertebrates.

Dorsal Hollow Nerve Cord

Embryonic tube that develops into the brain and spinal cord.

Post-Anal Tail

Tail extending beyond the anus during development; reduced to the coccyx in humans.

Mammary Glands

Milk-producing glands defining the class Mammalia.

Warm-Blooded (Endothermy)

Ability to maintain constant internal temperature; trait of mammals including humans.

Great Apes

Common term for the hominid family; large-bodied primates without tails.

Tool Use

Manipulation of objects to achieve goals; complex and cumulative in humans.

Taxonomy is Dynamic

Scientific classifications change as new fossil and genetic data emerge.

Common Ancestor

An ancestral species from which two or more descendant groups evolved.

Misconception: “Humans evolved from monkeys.”

Humans and modern monkeys share a common ancestor; neither evolved directly from the other.

Misconception: “Missing link.”

Evolution is a branching continuum with many transitional fossils, not a single connecting specimen.

Misconception: “Humans stopped evolving.”

Human populations continue to evolve, e.g., lactose tolerance and disease resistance.

Race (biological concept)

Social construct; humans are 99.9 % genetically identical with greater variation within populations than between them.