ARCH131 Final Questions with 100%
Correct Answers
plesiomorphic trait Correct Answer: Primitive trait inherited from an ancestor
Apomorphic trait Correct Answer: new or derived traits first appearing in the
species in question
Phylogeny Correct Answer: refers to the actual evolutionary relationships
between different organisms.
taxonomy Correct Answer: the process of classifying organisms based on
available data about their phylogenetic relationships
Hominin Correct Answer: Any species of early human that is more closely related
to humans than chimpanzees, including modern humans themselves.
Hominid Correct Answer: all great apes (modern and extinct)
Specialists Correct Answer: mostly go extinct because they do not have the
variability necessary to adapt
They get by really well as long as conditions that they are used to are stable. As
soon as they change they have a harder time surviving
intermembral index Correct Answer: ratio of arm length to leg length (Arm
length/leg length x 100)
Megadontia Correct Answer: enlargement of molars and premolars
Australopithecus afarensis Correct Answer: - East African species
,- ≈ 3.7-2.9 million years ago
- Canine Diastema - a gap to make room for the big upper canine
- Large molars
- U-shaped dental arcade
- Brain ➝ 415cc
- obligate bipeds
(ex: Lucy and Selam from Hadar)
Australopithecus africanus Correct Answer: -South African Species
- ≈ 3-2.4 million years ago
- still had SMALLER brains (human brains are 3x bigger)
-Zygomatic arch (cheekbones) pushed forward and flared out
- Prominent canine pillars
-Large Nasal Aperture
- large nose
(Ex. Taung child and Mrs. Ples)
Paranthropus aethiopicus Correct Answer: - ≈ 2.5 million years ago
- Cheekbones REALLY flare out (powerful chewing muscles + eating poor/hard
quality plant food)
, - Sagittal ridge
- Large molars
- Black skull from Turkana (KNM WT 17000)
3 Traits that distinguish homo habilis from the australopithecines Correct Answer:
1. Increased encephalization
2. Smaller teeth overall
3. More advanced precision grip
Apical tufts Correct Answer: Expanded distal phalanges for more advanced
precision grip
Homo habilis means Correct Answer: handy man
When stone tools and homo habilis both developed Correct Answer: ≈ 2.5
million years ago
lithic technology Correct Answer: stone tools
Necessary flake tool characteristics Correct Answer: - very hard
- very fine grained (ex: flint)
- homogenous (the same throughout its volume)
biocultural evolution Correct Answer: The combination and interaction of
human biological evolution and the evolution of our technology (ex: with stone
tools, teeth became less sharp / with clothes, body hair reduced)
Correct Answers
plesiomorphic trait Correct Answer: Primitive trait inherited from an ancestor
Apomorphic trait Correct Answer: new or derived traits first appearing in the
species in question
Phylogeny Correct Answer: refers to the actual evolutionary relationships
between different organisms.
taxonomy Correct Answer: the process of classifying organisms based on
available data about their phylogenetic relationships
Hominin Correct Answer: Any species of early human that is more closely related
to humans than chimpanzees, including modern humans themselves.
Hominid Correct Answer: all great apes (modern and extinct)
Specialists Correct Answer: mostly go extinct because they do not have the
variability necessary to adapt
They get by really well as long as conditions that they are used to are stable. As
soon as they change they have a harder time surviving
intermembral index Correct Answer: ratio of arm length to leg length (Arm
length/leg length x 100)
Megadontia Correct Answer: enlargement of molars and premolars
Australopithecus afarensis Correct Answer: - East African species
,- ≈ 3.7-2.9 million years ago
- Canine Diastema - a gap to make room for the big upper canine
- Large molars
- U-shaped dental arcade
- Brain ➝ 415cc
- obligate bipeds
(ex: Lucy and Selam from Hadar)
Australopithecus africanus Correct Answer: -South African Species
- ≈ 3-2.4 million years ago
- still had SMALLER brains (human brains are 3x bigger)
-Zygomatic arch (cheekbones) pushed forward and flared out
- Prominent canine pillars
-Large Nasal Aperture
- large nose
(Ex. Taung child and Mrs. Ples)
Paranthropus aethiopicus Correct Answer: - ≈ 2.5 million years ago
- Cheekbones REALLY flare out (powerful chewing muscles + eating poor/hard
quality plant food)
, - Sagittal ridge
- Large molars
- Black skull from Turkana (KNM WT 17000)
3 Traits that distinguish homo habilis from the australopithecines Correct Answer:
1. Increased encephalization
2. Smaller teeth overall
3. More advanced precision grip
Apical tufts Correct Answer: Expanded distal phalanges for more advanced
precision grip
Homo habilis means Correct Answer: handy man
When stone tools and homo habilis both developed Correct Answer: ≈ 2.5
million years ago
lithic technology Correct Answer: stone tools
Necessary flake tool characteristics Correct Answer: - very hard
- very fine grained (ex: flint)
- homogenous (the same throughout its volume)
biocultural evolution Correct Answer: The combination and interaction of
human biological evolution and the evolution of our technology (ex: with stone
tools, teeth became less sharp / with clothes, body hair reduced)
