Homo erectus fossils known from ca. 1.9 million years ago (1.9 Ma) until at least 200,000 years ago
(200 Ky)
H. erectus cranial anatomy
Average cranial capacity 600-1200 cc, avg 900 cc
Low braincase, widest point near earholes
Solid shelf of bone (supraorbital torus) above eyes
Occipital torus (bar of bone) across back of cranium
Teeth smaller than robust australopithecines and even H. habilis
Nasal prominence
Nariokotome Skeleton, Kenya (Turkana Boy) 1.6 million years ago (Ma)
Turkana Boy was about 8-9 yrs old when he died, but he was about the height of a 13 year old human. H. erectus
development was much faster than ours, with a shorter childhood period. Age of first reproduction: 14.5
years
H. erectus pelvis from Gona, Ethiopia: 0.9-1.4 Ma
Pelvic blades wrap around sides of body more than in Australopithecus; pelvic balancing system probably better
developed than Lucy’s. Birth canal large, to pass babies with brains bigger than Australopithecus babies.
Primates: Big brains = high quality diet
• All Homo species had high quality diets
• Homo erectus
– Large body and large brain
– Reduced guts
• Nutrient dense foods, e.g. meat, tubers, nuts
Activity Levels, Thermoregulation
• Thermoregulation like humans
– Nose sticks out
– Follow Allens Rule
– Human sweating ability
• Highly active
• Human limb proportions
• Long stride, distance walker
• Endurance running
Reproductive Costs of Big Body and Brain
• H. erectus gave birth to 2o altricial young?
• Support system for reproductive females
– Provide mom with resources
– Provide resources to wean kids early
• Male Investment in Mom, Offspring?
Dmanisi, Georgia: 1.7 Ma
1st evidence of hominins outside of Africa
1
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anyiamgeorge19. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
