Summary
Summary Human Evolution
- Course
- Institution
FET phase human evolution notes. Includes examples of famous and relevant fossils found (about them and photos)
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
emmataylor1
Reviews received
Content preview
Human EvolutionIntroduction
Charles Darwin suggested that humans and apes shared a common ancestor
James burnet suggested that humans were related to the orangutan and that all intermediate types of humans
may be found in Africa
Carl Linnaeus classified modern humans as Homo sapiens in the order Primates of class Mammalia
Homo sapiens
Sapien = distinguishes us from earlier humans Earlier human species
Homo habilis
Early humans = ape men (showed shared characteristics of apes and humans) Homo erectus
Homo neanderthalensis
Hominid A group consisting of modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and all their
ancestors
Hominins Modern humans, extinct human species and all our immediate ancestors (eg. members of Homo,
Australopithecus, Paranthropus & Ardipithecus)
Similarities between African Ape and humans
African apes = gorillas, chimps, bonobos (slightly larger than chimps)
Earliest mammals lived on trees (arboreal life)
Adaptations to arboreal life = structure of upper limbs, brain & eyes
Other adaptations shared by all primates = no. of offspring & posture
THE UPPER LIMBS: THE BRAIN:
Primates have free movement due to long Large brains compared to body mass
Can make sense of large amounts of
upper arms because of the glenoid cavity (into
information
which the head of the humerus bone fits) and
the fact that the scapulae are not attached to Parts that make sense of touch and sight are
the vertebral column enlarged
Parts that interpret smell (olfactory centre) is
Long arms = used for picking fruit reduced
Forearms can be rotated around the elbow
joint VISION:
Eyes at the front of the head
Flat nails instead of claws
Binocular vision (use both eyes)
Opposable thumbs
Hands can form a power grip (climbing) and a Eyes have cones & rods for colour vision &
precision grip (tools) greater clarity
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 emmataylor1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.09. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
79373 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now