BIO A 201 - 11.07.25 Lecture on the Genus Australopithecus and Early Hominins - Week 7 Lecture 3

Flashcards covering terminology and key concepts related to early hominins and the Australopithecus genus.

Australopithecus

Genus of early hominins known for both bipedalism and climbing.

Ardipithecus

An early genus of hominins that shows traits of both bipedality and arboreal adaptations.

Habitual Bipedality

The condition of consistently walking on two legs as a primary means of locomotion.

Auroran Tugatensis

An early bipedal candidate with significant evidence indicating potential bipedality.

Foramen Magnum

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

Cortical Bone Distribution

The pattern of bone density on the femur indicating bipedal behavior, thicker on the inside for weight support.

Australopithecus Afarensis

A well-known species of Australopithecus including the famous fossil 'Lucy'.

Gracile Australopithecine

A classification of Australopithecines that are lighter and less robust, like Afarensis and Africanus.

Robust Australopithecine

A classification of Australopithecines characterized by large teeth and skull features adapted for heavy chewing.

Paranthropus

A genus of robust Australopithecines known for adaptations in cranial anatomy related to chewing.

Sagittal Crest

A ridge of bone running along the top of the skull, indicative of strong chewing muscles.

Lumpers and Splitters

Terms used to describe differing approaches in classification: lumpers group similar species together while splitters distinguish species based on small differences.

Homo habilis

One of the earliest members of the genus Homo known for increased brain size and tool use.

Oldowan Tool Culture

The first known stone tool industry, characterized by simple, unrefined tools used by early Homo.

Biped

An organism that moves using two legs.

Sexual Dimorphism

The differences in physical characteristics between males and females of the same species.

Cranial Capacity

The volume of the interior of the skull, often correlated with brain size.

Divergent First Toe

A feature of some early hominins that indicates climbing ability; not fully aligned with the other toes.