Anthro Exam 2

Analogous characters

traits similar due to convergent evolution rather than a common descent

Ancestral characters

homologous traits that appear early in the evolution of a lineage which are useful for looking at the traits of a common ancestor

Derived characters

homologous traits that appear later in the evolutionary lineage

Bilophodont molars

two lobed molars with four cusps

Y-5 molars

molar with five cusps in a y-shaped pattern

Habituation

you transform primates behavior by making them tolerate your presence

Fossil

the remains of once living organism that chemicals changed into rock

Taphonomy

the study of what happens to an organisms remains after death

Steno’s Law of Superposition

how each layer of sedimentary rock is older than the one above it and younger than the one below

Relative Dating

figuring out whether an object or fossil is older or younger than something else without giving an exact age

Absolute Dating

determining the specific numerical age or range in years of rock layer

Piltdown Hoax

human skull fragments and orangutan jaw were combined

Hominid/Hominin

hominids are apes and humans whereas hominins are modern humans and their extinct bipedal ancestors

Bipedal

the functional adaptation for walking upright on two legs

(Biological) Species

a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Introgression

transfer of genetic material from one species into another through backcrossing a hybrid with its parent species

Pliocene

a geological epoch that lasted for 5.3-2.6 MYA

Sexual Dimorphism

differences in size, shape, and structure between males and females

Olduwan Tool Industry

stone tools used for cutting, scraping, or processing food

Acheulian Complex

1.5 mya – 250 kya, the culture associated with Middle Pleistocene Genus
Homo (Homo erectus), including handaxes and other types of stone tools; more refined than the earlier Oldowan tools. Unchanged technology for 1.2 million years, found in Africa, Europe, and the Near East.

Handaxe

The most dominant tool in the Acheulean complex, bifacial symmetrically worked pear-shaped stone tool characterized by a sharp edge for both cutting and scraping

Mousterian Tools

the stone tool culture in which Neandertals produced tools using the Levallois technique; dominated by flakes and occurs as a multistep process.

Upper Paleolithic Technology

Refers to the most recent part of the Old Stone Age, associated with early modern Homo sapiens and characterized by microblades and composite tools and other types of tools with various functions worked from bone and antler

Put in order of oldest to most recent. Acheulean, Upper Paleolithic, Olduwan, Mousterian

Olduwan, Acheulean, Mousterian, Upper Paleolithic

How do we study non-human primates?

1.primate fieldwork: observation of behaviors and social structures in the environment. However habituation can happen which can alter their natural behavior.
2.captive studies: allows continuous access to the animals without them fleeing. However captive animals can eat more exercise less which can affect their physical condition and behavior

The Skull

forward position of foramen magnum

the vertebral column

double s-bends in spinal column keeping center of gravity over midline of body

upper limbs

proportion reductions in arm length relative to leg length

the pelvis

broader and larger area of attachment for gluteus maximus muscle

femur

femur shaft angulation

foot

non-opposable and much larger bones relative to hand

List 2 features observed in Neandertals that are adaptations to cold.

Cold adaptations in Neandertals include large nasal cavities, stocky/bigger torso, short stature, barrel-shaped body; shorter limbs

Briefly define and contrast the ways the following models explain human variation
observed during past 200,000 years and the date of emergence of Homo sapiens as a group: “Out of Africa (II)/Replacement,” and “Multiregional Continuity.” (week 7)

Replacement Model: Modern humans radiated out of Africa to Europe after 50,000pb and replaced all living populations living there. No gene flow, with modern biology, behavior, and culture originating in Africa

Multiregional Model: Modern humans evolved from earlier archaic populations in their respective regions (Africa, Europe, Asia). Throughout evolution beginning with Genus Homo, there is always significant gene flow on the borders of populations, along with continuity of morphology in all regions of the globe.