Evolution of the Man and Other Animals - Essay Example

Anthropology A) A primate with abicondylar angle, an inferiorly placed foramen magnum, a reduced nonopposable thumb, a higher arch on the foot, a larger femoral head diameter show that it was bipedal. The advantage of bipedalism is that it allows the animal a better field of view by way of raising the head. This allows it to evade danger once seen. The other advantage enjoyed by those species that have bipedalism is that gives them a higher reach out for essentials such as food. This is because it frees the forelimbs for other purposes such as the manipulation of tools, climbing of trees both to hide and to access food, and for mating purposes. Its disadvantage is that it is slow and unstable and exposes vital organs to danger. In this way, the speeds attained by those species with bipedal abilities are far below those attained by the species that essentially use all limbs. Ostriches are among the fastest of bipeds even though their speeds do not compare well with those for quadrupeds.Bipedalism evolved due to the need to to free the hands for using tools as man and other animals evolved. B) When closely studied, the fossils of both Australopithecus anamensis and Australopithecus afarensis show that they were bipedal. In those records, all evidence in their knees, hips and foot morphology points to their having been bipedal.When compared to a modern human foot, the footprints called Laetoli Tracks in Tanzania point to a non-opposable hallux and an arch similar to that of a human being. Another piece of evidence displayed is that of the 7 Ma cranium which has an inferior placement of the foramen magnum which suggested that it was bipedal. The tibia of these species also had right angles between the shaft and the proximal surface which are evidence of bipedalism. These earlier hominids, though, are said to have been in the early stages of bipedalism given that further evidence has pointed to their using all four limbs especially for movement. 2.A) a) Orrorintugenensiswas discovered in Tugen Hills in Kenya in 2000. It is estimated to be between 5.7 to 6.1 million years old. Orrorin was bipedal given that its lesser trochanter protruded medially. From the evidence gathered about this hominid, its primary diet must have consisted of leaves and other forms of vegetation. b) Sahelanthropustchadensiswas discovered in 2001 in the Djurab Desert of Chad and was estimated to be about 7 million years. It was bipedal given that the shape of the anteriorly placed foramen magnum bore signs of bipedalism. More evidence points to it having fed on vegetation for the larger part of its diet. c) Ardipithecuskadabba was bipedal due to many features. It was discovered in the Middle Awash Valley in Ethiopia and estimated to be about 5.8 and 5.2 million years old. This type of hominid is said by experts to have used all four limbs for the performance of some tasks such as movement. d) Ardipithecusramidus was discovered in the Middle Awash river valley of Ethiopia in 1994. It was estimated to be 4.4 million years old. It had a grasping hallux which suggested bipedalism. B) Pickord and Senut thought Orrorin is closer to Homo than Australopithecus is because the similarities in characteristics between Orrorin and Homo species are more than those between Orrorin and Autralopithecus species. For example, Orrorin had small teeth and thick enamel like all species of Homo had. Another pointer is the fact that the jaw structure of Orrorin was similar to that of many species of Homo. 3.A) Early Pliocene australopithecines included the Australopithecus anamensis and the Australopithecus afarensis. They ate fruit, tubers and vegetables and were bipedal. B) Middle Pliocene australopithecenes include Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus. According to fossil evidence, these australopithecenes were very similar to present-day humans due to the shape of the skull and their mode of bipedalism. C) Late Pliocene australopithecenes include Australopithecus robustus which was mostly herbivorous. The relatively large brain and bipedal posture are among the characteristics that differentiated them from earlier auralopithecenes. 4.a) Distinguishing features Homo erectus Homo habilis Homo georgicus Homo sapiens Big brain capacity Smaller than that of H. erectus Smaller but almost similar to that of H. Erectus Bigger brain capacity comared to that of H. erectus Less sloped frontal bone compared to previous species Less steep slope in the frontal bone compared to that of h. erectus Less steep but almost similar slope in the frontal bone compared to that of h. erectus Very steep frontal bone Larger body than previous species Smaller body size compared to h. erectus Smaller but almost similar body size compared to h. erectus A bigger body size than H. erectus Better technological intensification than earlier species Poorer use of technology compared to H. erectus Poorer but almost similar use of technology compared to H. erectus Most advanced use of technology Reduced post-canine dentition size in relation to earlier species A bigger post-canine dentition size compared to H. erectus A bigger but almost similar post-canine dentition size compared to H. erectus A smaller post-canine dentition size compared to H. erectus It is among the first species to have used language No traces of language use so far Could have used language in its crudest forms Most advanced use of language B) Adaptations H. Erectus before 1.4 mya H. erectus after 1.4 mya H. erectus in Asia H. heidelbergensis Homo sapiens in Europe A short and stocky body A short and stocky body A relatively taller statutre with better developed bodies A bigger brain and straighter gait Upright gait with a bigger brain and better-developed body for tool manipulation Thick bones Thick bones Slightly lighter bones Relatively lighter bones Relatively lighter bones 5. Spain a. Homo antecessor remains were discovered in Gran Dolina. In Sima del Elefante, stone flakes and evidence of animal bone processing were discovered. The two discoveries were dated to be 900,000 and 1.2 million years old. These tell us that these kinds of species were cannibalists and were a link between different species of hominids. b. In Sima de los Huesos, fossils dating 350,000 years back were discovered. The individuals whose bones were found must have reached this position by going through the cave system of the Cueva Mayor as a form of mass burial or through natural agents as suggested by some archeologists. These hominids must have been among the first ones to have burial ceremonies from the evidence gathered. c.  Homo heidelbergensis is ancestral to Neanderthals given the many similarities between them. first of all, H. heidelbergensis was only slightly taller than Neanderthals. H. heidelbergensis alos invented the stone-tipped spear which the Neanderthals and modern humans inherited.Neandertahls are believed to have diverged from H. heidelbergensis around 300,000 years ago in Europe. According to archeology, Neanderthals were more robust with large brow-ridges, a lack of prominent chin and a slightly protruding face. Their bigger brain capacity meant that they were better at hunting, gathering and other ways of life. Neanderthals are believed to have gone extinct only around 20,000 years ago. The Neanderthals share many characteristics with modern human beings given the high number of similarities between them. For one, the DNA for Neanderthals is only 0.3 per cent different from that of modern beings. 6. Hominids a. The cranial structure of Homo sapiens idaltu and Homo rhodesiensis compare in many ways to those of the modern man (homo sapiens). In terms of craniofacial robusticity, both homo sapiens idaltu and homo rhodesiensis have greater robusticity compared to homo sapiens. When the anterior-posterior cranial length is compared, the length of this structure in earlier hominids is progressively more than that of homo sapiens. The glenoid to occlusal distance in the earlie hominids (homo sapiens idaltu and homo rhodesiensis) is larger than that in homo sapiens. When compared to homo rhodesiensis, homo sapiens idaltu has a larger cranial capacity. The frontal bone in homo sapiens idaltu is also more vertical than that in homo rhodesiensis. The more marked mid-facial topography in homo sapiens idaltu also differentiates it from homo rhodesiensis. b. Homo sapiens sapiensis the modern species of man and is believed to have evolved from homo sapiens around 200,000 years ago in the Middle Paleolithic. The very oldest of fossils found of homo sapiens sapiens were dated to about 195,000 years ago and are the Omo remains. They include a foot, an arm, a leg, pelvis bones, and two partial skulls. Others of a similar kind include those found in Herto, Pestera cu Oase and Skhul. The special thing about the Upper Paleolithic industry of homo sapiens sapiens is that it is the period when most abilities of modern man such as language and cognition were finally made a part of him. C) Homo floresiensis is an extinct species of hominids whose remains were recently discovered on the island of Flores, Indonesia. Commonly referred to as ‘The Hobbit,’ this species of hominids stood at 3.5 feet and are believed to be 12,000 years. Work Cited R. R. Marett. Anthropology. Forgotten Books. May 18, 2012. Read More