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Big Trends in Human Evolution. General Time Frame . Hominids evolved from earlier primates, of which date from the Eocene (55-34mya) to late Miocene (7-5mya) Prehominid primate fossil record.
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General Time Frame • Hominids evolved from earlier primates, of which date from the Eocene (55-34mya) to late Miocene (7-5mya) • Prehominid primate fossil record Modern Homo sapiens sapiens with the hand of a female Australopithecus sediba– one of our earliest ancestors!
Introduction – Human Evolution • Mosaic Evolution: Different parts evolve at different rates and at different times • With respect to human evolution: • Five key attributes • Developed at varying times along our evolutionary history
But how did we get here? • Bipedalism 7 mya • Nonhoning chewing 5.5 mya • Material Culture and Tools 2.5 mya • Speech 2.5 mya • Hunting 1 mya
Bipedalism • One of the earliest anatomical adaptations • Upright, bipedal gait was the first hallmark feature • When: 7mya • 6 areas of the body
Anatomical Adaptations for Bipedalism • Foot • Increase in surface area • Changes to hallux • Double-arched foot • Lower Limbs • Elongated relative to arms & trunk
Anatomical Adaptations for Bipedalism • Knee & Femur • Increase in surface area • Extension decreased • Femur - angled towards the middle of the body
Anatomical Adaptations for Bipedalism 4. Pelvis • Basin-Shaped Pelvis • Boarder, shorter blades
Anatomical Adaptations for Bipedalism 5. Vertebral column • S-shaped rather than C-shaped
Morphological Changes • 6. Foramen Magnum – underneath the base of the skull Bipedal – carries its head atop its skull Quadrupedal – carries its head on the front of the body
Useful Website for Human Origins • Website