Anatomy & Physiology Unit 6: Human Evolution
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Transcript Anatomy & Physiology Unit 6: Human Evolution
Anatomy & Physiology Unit 6:
Human Evolution
Classification Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animal
Phylum
Chordate
Class
Mammal
Order
Primates
Family
Hominids
Genus
Homo
Species
Sapiens
Evolution of Primates
•
The evolution of primates is characterized
by trends towards:
– mobile limbs
– grasping hands (with opposable thumbs)
– a flattened face
– binocular vision
– a large, complex brain (for learned behavior)
– a reduced reproductive rate
Mobile Limbs
•
•
Most primates have flat nails as well as
sensitive pads on the undersides of fingers
and toes.
– Many also have both an opposable big
toe and thumb.
Mobile limbs and clawless opposable digits
allow primates to freely grasp and release
tree limbs.
Primate Hands
Binocular Vision
•
Stereoscopic vision and resultant depth
perception allows primates to make
accurate judgments about distance and
position of adjoining tree limbs.
Evolution of Primates
•
Prosimians were the first type of primate to
diverge from the ancestral primate line.
•
Surviving anthropoids are classified into
three superfamilies.
–
–
–
New World monkeys
Old World monkeys
Hominoids
Hominoid Evolution
•
Proconsul is believed ancestral to hominids.
Evolution of Hominids
•
Phylogenetic tree indicates humans are
most closely related to African apes.
–
Last common ancestor appears to have
lived about 5-7 million years ago (mya)
Genetic changes used as a molecular
clock to measure relatedness of
different groups.
Hominids
•
To be a hominid, a fossil must have an
anatomy suitable for standing erect and
walking on two feet.
–
Bipedalism
Human anatomy differs from that of an
ape largely because humans are
bipedal while apes are quadrupedal.
Australopithecines
•
It is possible that one of the
australopithecines that evolved and
diversified in Africa 4 mya is a direct
ancestor of humans.
– Southern Africa
Australopithecus africanus
– Eastern Africa
Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy)
Lucy
•
A reconstruction of
Lucy’s skeleton
•
Lucy is ~ 3.5-millionyears-old
– Australopithecus
afarensis
–
adaptations in Lucy’s hip, leg
and foot allowed a fully
bipedal means of locomotion
Hominid Footprints
•
Preserved in volcanic
ash in Tanzania
– Discovered in 1978
– Proved hominids
were bipedal
walkers at least 3.5
million years ago
– Most scientists think
the footprints were
made by A.
afarensis, whose
fossils are found
nearby
Landscape with A. afarensis
Re-creation
of a Pliocene
landscape
showing
members of
A. Afarensis
gathering
and eating
various fruits
and seeds
Evolution of Early Homo
•
Homo habilis, dated between 2.0 an 1.9
mya, may be ancestral to modern humans.
–
Skulls suggest portions of the brain
associated with speech were enlarged.
Ability to speak may have led to hunting
cooperatively and the advent of culture.
Human Evolution
Skull of Homo erectus
•
A reconstruction
of the skull of
Homo erectus
–
–
a widely
distributed
species
whose remains
have been found
in Africa, Europe,
India, China, and
Indonesia
Homo erectus
•
Homo erectus and like fossils are found in
Africa, Asia, and Europe and are dated
between 1.9 and 0.3 mya.
– Larger brain and flatter face than Homo
habilis.
– Much taller than previous hominids.
– Believed to have first appeared in Africa
and then migrated into Asia and Europe.
– First hominid to use fire.
•
Homo erectus Using Tools
Re-creation of a Pleistocene setting in
which Homo erectus use fire & stone tools
Evolution of Modern Humans
•
Most researchers believe Homo sapiens
evolved from Homo erectus.
– Multiregional Continuity Hypothesis
Similar evolution occurred in many
different places.
– Out-of-Africa Hypothesis
H. sapiens evolved from H. erectus only
in Africa, and thereafter migrated to
Europe.
Evolution of Modern Humans
Neanderthals
•
Neanderthal (H. neanderthalensis)
skeletons were first discovered in
Germany’s Neander Valley.
– Skeletons date back 200,000 years.
Massive brow ridges with protruding
nose, jaws, and teeth.
Heavily muscled.
Culturally advanced.
Manufactured variety of tools.
•
Reconstructed
Neanderthal
skull
characterized
by prominent heavy
brow ridges and week chin
•
Burial Ceremony in a Cave
Neanderthals lived in caves and had
ritual burials, such as this depiction
from Shanidar Cave, Iraq
Neanderthals
(190,000 – 27,000 yrs ago)
Flaked stones
that fit in wood
handles.
Buried their dead
with spices and
bedding.
Built sturdy huts.
Made flutes!
A flute formed from a femur & 4 remaining holes.
Cro-Magnons – Homo sapiens
•
•
Oldest fossils to be designated H. sapiens.
Modern humans who entered Asia and
Europe from Africa 100,000 years ago.
–
–
–
Made advanced stone tools.
Accomplished hunters.
Hunted cooperatively.
First to have complex language?
Painting From a Cave in France
•
Cro-Magnons were very skilled cave painters
•
Painting of a horse from a cave in France
Homo Floresiensis
(hobbits)
- one meter high
- lived in Flores
12,000 yrs ago
- Upright posture
- 380 cc cranial
size (like a chimp)
The shapes & sizes
of hominid heads
can be seen to
evolve with time.
Australopithecus vs. Modern
Australopithecus, 4-3 myrs ago
Chimpanzee
Modern human
Cranial Comparisons
Homo Erectus
Neanderthal
Homo Sapiens
Cultural Evolution
•
With the appearance of Cro-Magnons,
– human evolution has become almost
entirely cultural rather than biological
•
Humans have spread throughout the world
– by devising means to deal with a broad
range of environmental conditions
Homo Sapiens
100,000 yrs ago
Art: Cave Paintings, Venuses
Oldest paintings: Chauvet (32,000 yrs old)
Peche Merle (15,000 yrs old)
Lascaux (17,000 yrs old)