Big Trends in Human Evolution
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Transcript of Big Trends in Human Evolution
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
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 Bipedalism1. Foot
Increase in surface area
Changes to hallux Double-arched foot
2. Lower Limbs Elongated relative to arms
& trunk
Anatomical Adaptations for Bipedalism
3. 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