ANTH240 Exam 2 - Human Species

Ardipithecus Ramidus

• 4.5-4.2 mya

• 1st in line of human species

• very ape-like

  • arboreal

  • <400cc brain

  • curved finger bones

  • large front & small back teeth

• bipedal

• short (~4ft)

• evidence- skeletal remains of 100 individuals

Australopithecus Anamensis

• 4.17-3.8 mya

• mix of ape & human traits

  • ape-like jaw & teeth; <400cc brain

  • human/bipedal limb fragments

• researchers- Bryan Patterson

Australopithecus Afarensis

• 3.8-2.95 mya

• slightly taller (~3.5-5ft)

• bipedal lower body, arboreal upper body

  • `curved arms, human but curved fingers, longer limbs

• brain still <400cc

• researchers- Maurice Taieb & Donald Johanesen

• LUCY- most famous; human-chimp “link”

Australopithecus Africanus

• 3.3-3.1 mya

• light frame, very mobile

• brain increase (450-500cc)

• prognathic (protruding jaw)

• only found in S. Africa; 1st doomed hominin?

Australopithecus Robustus

• 1.8-1.2 mya

• large, muscular body

• larger brain (500-550cc)

• large back & small front teeth (human)

  • indicate diet of coarse, fibrous plants & nuts

• sagittal crest (powerful jaw)

• Kromdraai Site

  • Robert Broom

• Olduvai Gorge

  • Mary & Louis Leakly

Homo Habilis

• 2.4-1.4 mya

• 1st homo; coexisted w/ australopithecus

• larger brain (600-700cc)

• opposable thumbs

• sexual dimorphism

• arms still long (likely still climbed trees)

• researchers- Louis & Mary Leakly

• Oldowan Stone Tool Industry

  • Olduvai Gorge, 2.6-1.7 mya

  • cognitive capacity

Homo Erectus

• 1.89 mya - 100 kya

• human-like anatomy BELOW skull, above is still primate-like

• bigger brain (700-800cc)

• researcher- Richard Leakly

• cognitive capacity

• natural history intelligence

• Out of Africa I

• Achulean Stone Tool Industry

  • 1.7 mya - 200 kya

  • more detailed & defined tools; symmetry

  • fire (1 mya - 700 kya); Swartkrans Site

• Turkana Boy (complete skeleton)

Homo Heidelbergensis

• 700-200 kya

• larger brain (~1200cc)

• smaller jaw

• still-pronounced brow ridge

• mobile foragers & hunters

• colder climates & shelter (1st to do so)

• consistent control of fire

• natural history intelligence

• Heidelberg (Germany)

• Gran Dolina (Spain)

Denisovan

• 40 kya

• different species, identified soley based on DNA sample analysis

• VERY limited specimens (~12)

• bred w/ H. Neanderthalensis & H. Sapiens; evidence in genome

Homo Sapiens

• 400-250 kya, archaic modern humans

• language, consciousness, foresight, self-awareness, abstract thought, social complexity

  • art, clothing

• reduced brow ridge, smaller teeth, pronounced chin

• migration

  • multi-regional

  • Out of Africa II

  • hybridization

• anatomically modern human