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Paleontology; The Study of Human Evolution

Paleontology; The Study of Human Evolution. Old Skull, New Look. United Learning. 1985. unitedstreaming. 16 February 2006 http://www.unitedstreaming.com/. Some of the Scientists. a. Leakey Family Louis and Mary ii. Began with Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, East Africa

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Paleontology; The Study of Human Evolution

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  1. Paleontology; The Study of Human Evolution

  2. Old Skull, New Look. United Learning. 1985. unitedstreaming. 16 February 2006 http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

  3. Some of the Scientists... • a. Leakey Family • Louis and Mary ii. Began with Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, East Africa iii. Many key discoveries that shaped our knowledge of human origin • Examples: Laetoli foot prints, Australopithecus boisei, Homo habilis, and Homo erectus From: www.leakey.com Cover photo from Time, Nov 1977. From: www.leakey.com

  4. Some of the Scientists... b. Raymond Dart i. Studied fossils found in Taung , South Africa ii Taung child; Australopithcus africanus Photo from: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/specimen.html#taung Photo from: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/rdart.html

  5. Some of the Scientists... c. Dr. Donald Johanson i Was told that he was “not college material” ii Discovered Lucy in 1974 in Hadar, Ethiopia http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/djohanson.html http://www.asu.edu/clas/iho/johanson.html

  6. Primates Characteristics: a 5 Flexible Fingers/Toes b Mammals c Hair d Suckle Their Young e Complex Social Behavior Examples: Shrews, Lemurs, Monkeys, Apes, Humans

  7. Opposable Thumb i. Hominids have a thumb which bends toward the other fingers. ii. It is used for gripping. iii. Apes also have opposable toes. iv. Humans are the only primates without opposable toes

  8. (Prosimians b) ~65 million years ago, dinosaurs became extinct Plants & animals adapted to fill new empty habitats (niches) 2 Subgroups of Primates: Prosimians Anthropoids Diagram courtesy of: http://www.niu.edu/pubaffairs/RELEASES/2000/MAR/primate/tree.html

  9. Prosimians (a) First primates What characteristic of the prosimians below allows them to be (c) nocturnal and (b) arboreal?

  10. Binocular Vision i 2 eyes see different images ii Brain merges them together iii Gives greater depth perception

  11. Anthropoids a. Evolved from prosimians b. Larger c. Diurnal (daytime activity) d. Arboreal e. Larger brain f. May be Quadrupedal g. May have Prehensile tail (wraps around branches) h. Includes Hominoids and monkeys

  12. Hominoids a. Began as small and arboreal apes b. Now, includes apes and hominids c. Some quadrupedal some bipedal i. May use “knuckle-walking”

  13. Hominids • Group of hominoids • Separated from apes 4-5 million years ago • Probably began in Africa • Humans & their closest fossil relatives • Bipedal • Enlarged brain

  14. Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: The Origin and Evolution of Life. Discovery Channel School. 2005. unitedstreaming. 16 February 2006 http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

  15. Lucy • Example of Australopithecus afarensis • The oldest hominid fossil ever found • 3,000,000 years old • 40% complete

  16. Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: The Origin and Evolution of Life. Discovery Channel School. 2005. unitedstreaming. 16 February 2006 http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

  17. Laetoli • A pair of hominid footprints • Indicated socialization • Indicated Bipedalism • From around the time of Lucy

  18. Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: The Origin and Evolution of Life. Discovery Channel School. 2005. unitedstreaming. 16 February 2006 http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

  19. Toumai Skull • Twice as old as Lucy • Ape-like cranium • Human-like teeth • Suggests that human evolution was a series of “experiments” with many branches like a bush

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