Plio-Pleistocene Hominins and the Genus Homo

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Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the evolutionary transitions, anatomical adaptations, tool cultures, and hominin taxa of the Plio-Pleistocene epochs.

48 Terms

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Bipedalism
Walking on two legs.
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Encephalization
Development of larger brains.
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Speciation
Formation of new species.
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Gracile
Slender or lightly built.
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Robust
Strong and sturdy build.
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Prognathism
A face or jaw that sticks forward.
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Mosaic habitat
An environment with two or more habitat types.
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Biocultural evolution
Evolution through both biological and cultural changes.
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Sagittal crest
Ridge on top of the skull for chewing muscles.
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Zygomatic arches
Cheekbones.
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Pleistocene
Ice Age period with major climate changes.
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Australopithecus
Early hominins with small brains, large teeth, and upright walking.
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Three gracile australopithecines
A. africanus, A. sediba, and A. garhi.
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A. africanus
South African species associated with the Taung Child fossil.
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A. africanus time period
3.3–2.1 million years ago.
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A. africanus brain size
400–500 cc.
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A. africanus climbing evidence
Shoulder structure suggests it could climb trees.
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A. sediba
Small-brained species with long arms, curved fingers, and smaller teeth.
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A. sediba discovery
Malapa Cave, South Africa.
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A. sediba time period
About 2 million years ago.
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A. sediba brain size
About 420 cc.
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A. sediba relationship to Homo
Had Homo-like teeth, but its ancestry is uncertain.
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A. garhi
East African gracile species with large teeth and a Homo-like body.
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A. garhi location
Ethiopia.
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A. garhi time period
About 2.5 million years ago.
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A. garhi facial features
Large teeth and a projecting face.
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Paranthropus
Robust hominins with large teeth and powerful chewing muscles.
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Paranthropus time period
About 2.5–1 million years ago.
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Three Paranthropus species
P. aethiopicus, P. boisei, and P. robustus.
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Paranthropus brain size
About 400–500 cc.
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Paranthropus sagittal crest
Ridge that helped support strong chewing muscles.
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Paranthropus diet
Tough tubers, seeds, and grasses.
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Paranthropus extinction
Extinct by about 1 million years ago.
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Gracile vs. robust
Gracile = slender; robust = sturdy with powerful jaws.
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Genus Homo
Hominins with larger brains, bipedalism, and cultural adaptations.
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Earliest Homo
Appeared in East Africa by about 2.4 million years ago.
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Homo rudolfensis
Early Homo species with a larger body and brain.
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Homo rudolfensis time period
About 2.4–1.6 million years ago.
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Homo habilis
Early Homo species associated with Oldowan stone tools.
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Oldowan tools
Simple stone tools made by breaking flakes off rocks.
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Hard-hammer percussion
Striking one rock with another to make sharp stone flakes.
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Acheulian tools and language
Both require planning, structure, and correct sequencing.
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Broca's area
Brain area involved in producing speech.
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Wernicke's area
Brain area involved in understanding speech.
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Climate changes in the Pleistocene
Forests decreased and mixed grasslands expanded.
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Climate and speciation
Environmental instability contributed to more hominin species.
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Paranthropus vs. Homo
Paranthropus specialized in chewing; Homo had bigger brains and tools.
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Homo dietary adaptation
A flexible, varied diet rather than highly specialized chewing.