Fossil Record and Early Hominins

A collection of flashcards highlighting key vocabulary and concepts related to the fossil record and early hominins.

Hominins

Members of the tribe Hominini, which includes modern humans and their closest ancestors.

Bipedalism

The ability to walk on two legs; a defining characteristic of early hominins.

Functional Characteristics of Hominins

Facultative bipedalism, dental characteristics, larger brains, slow development, and complex culture.

Diastema

A gap or space between teeth, more pronounced in apes than in early hominins.

Mosaic Evolution

A pattern of evolution where different traits evolve at different rates within a lineage.

Foramen Magnum

The opening in the skull where the spinal cord passes; its position indicates bipedalism.

Sahelanthropus tchadensis

One of the earliest known hominins, dating back to about 7-6 million years ago.

Orrorin tugenensis

An early hominin believed to be 6 million years old, with notable bipedal characteristics.

Ardipithecus ramidus

An early hominin that lived around 4-5 million years ago, exhibiting a mix of ancestral and derived traits.

Cortical Bone Density

A measure of bone strength and structure; important for understanding bipedal gait in hominins.

Bipedal Locomotion

A method of movement involving walking on two legs, significant in human evolution.

Arboreal Quadrupedalism

A mode of locomotion that involves climbing and moving on four limbs in trees.

Exaptation

The process by which traits evolve to serve one function and are later co-opted for another.

Tectonic Activity

Movements of the Earth's crust that can lead to climate changes affecting hominin evolution.

Biostratigraphy

A relative dating method that uses fossil correlations to determine the age of rock layers.

Paleoenvironment

Ancient environmental conditions that shaped the habitat of early hominins.

Emphasis on Variation

Refers to the diversity in characteristics observed in the fossil records of early hominins.

Facultative Bipedalism

The ability to walk on two legs occasionally while also being able to move on all fours.

Dental Arcade

The shape and arrangement of teeth in the jaw; varies between species and indicates dietary adaptations.

Oral Superstructures

Anatomical features above the eye sockets, significant for understanding the evolution of hominin skulls.

C/P3 Nonhoning Complex

A dental feature found in hominins where the canine teeth are not sharpened against premolars.