C10

• PRIMATE > HOMINOID > HOMINID > HOMININ 
• Primate  

  • Any mammal of the group that include monkeys, apes, and humans (ORDER) 

   

  Hominoid  

  • All apes that include modern humans, gibbons, siamangs, gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans as well as their immediate ancestors (SUPER FAMILY) 

   

  Hominin 

  • The group of modern humans and extinct erect-walking/upright walking/bipedal ancestors - genus Homo, Australopithecus, Paranthropus (TRIBE) 
• Primate characteristics - TREE CLIMBER 

  Body features  

  • Function + feature -> purpose 

  1. Opposable thumb and toe -> power and precision grip 
  2. Flat nailed fingers -> enhanced precise movements 
  3. Touch receptor fingertips -> enables hand use/movement to gather information 
  4. Mobile forearms -> increased flexibility to adapt to live in trees 
  5. Prehensile hands and feet -> ability to grip to trees 

  Skull features  

  • Larger cranial capacity (big brain relative to body size) -> increased intelligence 
  • Forward positioned eyes -> enhanced visual abilities
• Hominoid characteristics - WALKER/TREE CLIMBER

  Body features 

  1. Shorter spine between ribcage and pelvis -> enables them to sit upright 
  2. Lack of a tail -> contributes to their ability to sit upright 
  3. Longer arms than legs and further positioned shoulder blades -> allows flexibility of arm use 

  Skull features 

  • Distinctive molar teeth (lower jaw) -> teeth have 5 cusps in Y5 pattern 
  • Increased cranium size -> greater than other primates, increased intelligence 

  
• Hominin characteristics - WALKER 

  Body features 

  1. Developed bipedalism -> changes to backbone, hips, knees, and feet -> erect-walking 
  2. Lack of apposable toe (aligned big toe) -> facilitates upright walking (bipedalism) 
  3. Smaller jaw size -> allows brain to take more room in skull, development of tools to crush food + change in diet 

   Skull features 

  • Larger brain case -> increased intelligence (more complex thinking and abstract emotions)  

  Functional/behavioural features  

  • Increased cognitive abilities -> abstract thinking, create languages
• What is the advantage of having an apposable thumb? 

  • Power grip: useful when climbing trees or holding onto something 
  • Precision grip: allows fine manipulation of tools 

  
• What is the advantage of an enlarged brain? 

  • Increased intelligence 
  • This allows more complex behaviour and development of language 
  • Ability to problem solve and adapt to their environment or even alter the environment to suit their needs 
  • To hunt animals for foods which requires planning and cooperation (communication) 
  • Ability to pass knowledge onto future generations 
• What is the advantage of a bowl shaped pelvis? 

  • This moves centre of gravity so it is easier to be bipedal 
  • Gives greater support to organs 

   
• What is the advantage of longer legs then arms? 

  • Provides more stride to travel faster, making it easier to bipedal walk (more efficient) 
• Homo sapiens and Neanderthals 

  • Distinct species with a common ancestor 

  Similarities 

  • Enlarged brow ridge 
  • Wide nose 
  • Large cranial capacity/brain case 
  • Flared ribcage 
  • Shorter limbs 
  • Stockier build 
  • Better resistance to cold climates  

  Differences 

  • Neanderthals had a greater cranial capacity than homo sapiens