WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE AUSTRALOPITHECINES?
And the hominins for that matter~
Like last night, when I typed up some stuff regarding vitamins and nutrition, I'm going to type up the answers to the essay questions in my study guide to prepare for the biological anthropology exam tomorrow. Which I also didn't get to study for.
Here goes.
I. Identify ten anatomical changes associated with bipedialism, including at least one trait from each of the following categories: pelvis, limbs, feet, thorax and vertebral column.
Changes seen in the pelvis include the ilium broadened and shortened as well as a flaring ilium and a wider pelvis outlet. Changes seen in the legs would be that the legs are longer than the arms, the knees are close together, inward tapering of thigh bones and the that the knee join locks when extended. Changes in the feet would be the loss of grasping ability, non-divergent big toes, and general changes in bone shapes. Changes in the vertebral column, would be the s-shape in the backbone, the vertebrae being perpendicular to the base of the skull and the foramen magnum centered under the skull. Finally, there are changes in the thorax area: the barrel-shaped rib cage and the internal organs located lower in the body cavity.
II. Describe the physical differences among australopithecines, early hominins and late hominins. Then describe the physical differences between gracile and robust australopithecines.
One way to quickly spot an australopithecine is through the presence of a sagittal crest, as well as more prognathic facial profile (as opposed to the more orthognathic of hominins). If a projecting chin is present, you have a late hominin, as the others are absent of the projecting chin. A projecting nose is a trait for hominins, with the late hominins projecting the most; australopiths have non-projecting, flat noses.The australopiths also tend to have a smaller and more elongated cranial vault and more pronounced post-orbital constriction. Robust australopiths tend to have the most broad cheek bones, while the late hominins tend to have the smallest (to moderate, and moderate for all other cases). The mandible of australopiths tend to be large, with robust australopiths being the largest while the hominins have moderate sized ones, and the late hominins may even be small. The molars are also large in the australopiths, largest in robust australopiths, moderate in early hominins and small to moderate in late hominins. The canine teeth in the australopiths are large, but slightly project in gracile australopiths, as opposed to robust australopiths.
III. Do you think that the australopithecines should be considered and classified as "humans?" Why or why not?
I actually have no idea how to answer this. So... back to the books. ~.~
Like last night, when I typed up some stuff regarding vitamins and nutrition, I'm going to type up the answers to the essay questions in my study guide to prepare for the biological anthropology exam tomorrow. Which I also didn't get to study for.
Here goes.
I. Identify ten anatomical changes associated with bipedialism, including at least one trait from each of the following categories: pelvis, limbs, feet, thorax and vertebral column.
Changes seen in the pelvis include the ilium broadened and shortened as well as a flaring ilium and a wider pelvis outlet. Changes seen in the legs would be that the legs are longer than the arms, the knees are close together, inward tapering of thigh bones and the that the knee join locks when extended. Changes in the feet would be the loss of grasping ability, non-divergent big toes, and general changes in bone shapes. Changes in the vertebral column, would be the s-shape in the backbone, the vertebrae being perpendicular to the base of the skull and the foramen magnum centered under the skull. Finally, there are changes in the thorax area: the barrel-shaped rib cage and the internal organs located lower in the body cavity.
II. Describe the physical differences among australopithecines, early hominins and late hominins. Then describe the physical differences between gracile and robust australopithecines.
One way to quickly spot an australopithecine is through the presence of a sagittal crest, as well as more prognathic facial profile (as opposed to the more orthognathic of hominins). If a projecting chin is present, you have a late hominin, as the others are absent of the projecting chin. A projecting nose is a trait for hominins, with the late hominins projecting the most; australopiths have non-projecting, flat noses.The australopiths also tend to have a smaller and more elongated cranial vault and more pronounced post-orbital constriction. Robust australopiths tend to have the most broad cheek bones, while the late hominins tend to have the smallest (to moderate, and moderate for all other cases). The mandible of australopiths tend to be large, with robust australopiths being the largest while the hominins have moderate sized ones, and the late hominins may even be small. The molars are also large in the australopiths, largest in robust australopiths, moderate in early hominins and small to moderate in late hominins. The canine teeth in the australopiths are large, but slightly project in gracile australopiths, as opposed to robust australopiths.
III. Do you think that the australopithecines should be considered and classified as "humans?" Why or why not?
I actually have no idea how to answer this. So... back to the books. ~.~