HOMINID EVOLUTIONPhylogenetic tree to show the place of the family Hominidae in the animal kingdom.

Human classification

Phylogenetic Tree of the family Hominidae:

Australopithecus & HomoChimpanzees

GorillasOrangutans

Gibbons

Super family: Hominoidea

Family: Hominidae

Subfamily: Homininae

Tribe: Hominini

Evidence that supports the idea of common ancestors for living hominids including humans: 1) Fossil evidence

2) Genetic evidence: mitochondrial DNA

3) Cultural evidence: tool making

List of characteristics that humans share with African apes: p243

1)Opposable thumb =

2)Hands and feet can grasp (prehensile) =

3) Fingernails instead of claws =

4) Binocular stereoscopic vision =

5) 32 teeth in permanent heterodont dentition = heterodont means different teeth (molar, canine etc. see p243)

6) Single pair of mammary glands (breasts)

Tabulated anatomical differences between African apes and humans:

Humans African apes1) Permanently Bipedal (foramen magnum central, spine S-curved with short lower back and pelvic girdle short) .

1) Occasionally Bipedal (foramen magnum in back, spine C-curved with long lower back, pelvic girdle long narrow).

2) Larger brain size. 2) Smaller brain size.3) Small teeth, equal size.

3) Small teeth, large canines.

Humans African apes4) No prognathis. 4) Pronounced

prognathis.5) Palate rounded shape.

5) Palate elongated rectangular shape.

6) Cranial ridges totally absent.

6) Cranial ridges still visible.

7) Brow ridges absent. 7) Brow ridges pronounced.

Foramen magnum positioning for Bipedalism

Gorilla A. africanus

Human

Hip / Pelvis and leg structure for Bipedalism

Bipedalism leaves the hands free to hold food, young and protect self.

Allows field of view over tall grasses to protect against stalking predators.

Distribution of humans across the planet:

The Out of Africa hypothesis states that all modern humans originated in

Africa.

Out – of – Africa theory

Lines of evidence that support the Out of Africa hypothesis: 1) Fossil record – fossil sites in:

a) The Great Rift Valley in East Africa (Kenya and

Tanzania), Ethiopia p256b) South Africa p256

2) Mitochondrial DNA p255

Bipedalism evidence:

•Laetoli footprints discovered in 1978 by Mary Leaky at Laetoli in Tanzania.•3.6 million years old.•Made most likely by an australopithecene

P246 – 248 = Very good for studying developmental comparisons.

HOMINID EVOLUTIONArdipithecus ramidus (aka Ardi) – 1994 Ethiopia

4.4 myap249

Australopithecus afarensis (aka Lucy) – 1974 Ethiopia

3.2 myap249

• Australopithecus africanus – Taung child & Mrs. Ples

1924 – Taung, R.S.A. 1947 – Sterkfontein

2.8 – 2.6 mya p250

• Homo habilis – ‘Handy Man’

1968 – Olduvai Gorge Tanzania

2.5mya p250

• Paranthropus boisei – Nutcracker man

1959 – Olduvai Gorge Tanzania2.2 – 1.2 mya p250

• Homo erectus – ‘Walking upright man’ (Java man)

1891 – Java Indonesia1.8 – 1.3mya

p251

• Paranthropus robustus – ‘strong almost man’

1938 Kromdraai, R.S.A.1.2mya p250

• Homo heidelbergensis

1907 – Mauer, Germany600 000 – 400 000yaNot in text

• Homo neanderthalensis

(1829) 1856 – all across Europe, from Belgium, into Germany, Gibraltar, Palestine

600 000 – 30 000ya not in text

• Homo sapiens – ‘Wise man’

250 000ya – present dayp251