Hominid Skeletons and Human Evolution
Information On Famous Time
Illustration Scientific Name Fossil Found: Characteristics And Facts Period Skeletal Features And Biological Traits
Location Of Fossils And (mya:
Palaeontologist Who Found million
Fossil years ago )
Australopithecus Lucy: Lucy’s femur angles inwards Ape-like:
afarensis Found in 1973 in Awash towards the midline suggests - Small cranium (small brain)
Valley, Ethiopia (Great Rift that she was bipedal. - Large brow ridges
Valley) by Don - Large canines
Johansen Footprints are considered Trace Lived - Protruding jaw (prognathism)
fossil (footprints left by 4 – 3 mya - convergent big toe
The Laetoli footprints: Australopithecus afarensis Human-like:
Found in Laetoli, Tanzania individuals as they walked - Broad, bowl shaped pelvis (suggests
(part of the Great Rift through volcanic ash) bipedalism)
Valley) Traits:
- Short in stature (1 – 1.5 m tall)
- Long arms, curved fingers and toes
suggest they were arboreal
- Small cranial capacity (1/3 size of
modern human brain)
- Large brow ridges present,
prognathism
- Large canines
- Bipedal (femur angled inwards,
foramen magnum further forward
than an ape, convergent big toe)
, Information On Famous Time
Illustration Scientific Name Fossil Found: Characteristics And Facts Period Skeletal Features And Biological Traits
Location Of Fossils And (mya:
Palaeontologist Who Found million
Fossil years ago )
Australopithecus Taung child: Cast of the brain gave a good Ape-like features seen in the skull:
africanus Found in 1924 by Prof indication of brain size and - Small cranium
Raymond Dart in Taung, structure.Brain only one third the - Brow ridges
North West Province size of modern humans Lived 2 – 3 - Prognathism (extension or bulging
mya out (protrusion) of the lower jaw
Mrs Ples: The hole at the base of the skull (mandible))
Found in Sterkfontein (foramen magnum) reveals the
caves, Cradle of Humankind posture of an upright human, not a Human-like features:
by Dr Robert knuckle- walking ape. - Human-like teeth. (The teeth helped
Broom in 1947. determine the age of the Taung child
to be 3 – 4 years old.)
- rounded dental arch
- Fully bipedal (indicated by pelvis,
femur and foot bones)
Traits:
- Brain capacity of 450 cc (larger than
A. afarensis).
- Long arms and shorter legs
- Hand bones indicated climbing ability
- Prognathism
- Brow ridges smaller than A. afarensis
- Ate fruit and leaves and scavenged
for meat
Information On Famous Time
Illustration Scientific Name Fossil Found: Characteristics And Facts Period Skeletal Features And Biological Traits
Location Of Fossils And (mya:
Palaeontologist Who Found million
Fossil years ago )
Australopithecus Lucy: Lucy’s femur angles inwards Ape-like:
afarensis Found in 1973 in Awash towards the midline suggests - Small cranium (small brain)
Valley, Ethiopia (Great Rift that she was bipedal. - Large brow ridges
Valley) by Don - Large canines
Johansen Footprints are considered Trace Lived - Protruding jaw (prognathism)
fossil (footprints left by 4 – 3 mya - convergent big toe
The Laetoli footprints: Australopithecus afarensis Human-like:
Found in Laetoli, Tanzania individuals as they walked - Broad, bowl shaped pelvis (suggests
(part of the Great Rift through volcanic ash) bipedalism)
Valley) Traits:
- Short in stature (1 – 1.5 m tall)
- Long arms, curved fingers and toes
suggest they were arboreal
- Small cranial capacity (1/3 size of
modern human brain)
- Large brow ridges present,
prognathism
- Large canines
- Bipedal (femur angled inwards,
foramen magnum further forward
than an ape, convergent big toe)
, Information On Famous Time
Illustration Scientific Name Fossil Found: Characteristics And Facts Period Skeletal Features And Biological Traits
Location Of Fossils And (mya:
Palaeontologist Who Found million
Fossil years ago )
Australopithecus Taung child: Cast of the brain gave a good Ape-like features seen in the skull:
africanus Found in 1924 by Prof indication of brain size and - Small cranium
Raymond Dart in Taung, structure.Brain only one third the - Brow ridges
North West Province size of modern humans Lived 2 – 3 - Prognathism (extension or bulging
mya out (protrusion) of the lower jaw
Mrs Ples: The hole at the base of the skull (mandible))
Found in Sterkfontein (foramen magnum) reveals the
caves, Cradle of Humankind posture of an upright human, not a Human-like features:
by Dr Robert knuckle- walking ape. - Human-like teeth. (The teeth helped
Broom in 1947. determine the age of the Taung child
to be 3 – 4 years old.)
- rounded dental arch
- Fully bipedal (indicated by pelvis,
femur and foot bones)
Traits:
- Brain capacity of 450 cc (larger than
A. afarensis).
- Long arms and shorter legs
- Hand bones indicated climbing ability
- Prognathism
- Brow ridges smaller than A. afarensis
- Ate fruit and leaves and scavenged
for meat
