HUMAN EVOLUTION
-started about 60 million years ago
TAXONOMY:
-organisms are classified based on observable traits as well as ability to interbreed
-classification can show evolutionary relationship (common ancestor branching points):
domainkingdom -> phylum -> class -> order -> family -> genera -> species
DOMAIN: EUKARYA
KINGDOM: ANIMALIA
PHYLUM: CHORDATA:
1. nerve cord
2. notochord (-> stomach & intestines)
-invertebrates: -> vertebral column of bonds around nerve cord
3. pharyngeal slits (-> esophagus & trachea)
Evolutionary Line to Humans:
chordate ancestor -> ostracoderms (armoured fishes) -> placoderms -> primitive amphibians -> primitive
reptiles -> mammals
-> dinosaurs -> birds
CLASS: MAMMALIA
-homeotherms (like birds)
-hair (at some point during life)
-4-chambered heart with complete double circulation (like birds & crocodiles)
-copulatory organs (like reptiles)
-internal fertilization
-mammary glands produce milk
-positioning of legs farther under body, thus greater mobility than reptiles and amphibians
PLACENTAL MAMMALS:
-placenta in womb to nourish embryos within mother
ORDER: PRIMATES
ANTHROPOID PRIMATES: (monkeys, apes, human beings-extinct and living)
-diurnal (active during day)
-binocular vision
-larger brains
-opposable thumb
-most feed on fruits and leaves
-enhanced senses (colour vision, touch sensitivity in digits)
-live in complex social groups
-prolonged period of care for young
HOMINOIDS (apes=gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzee (two species) & hominids = humans &
direct ancestors)
*NOTE: The relationship btw chimp's, gorillas, and humans is so close that if they were members of any
other group of org's, they would almost certainly be classified as members of the same genus. All
hominoids are genetically similar.
LIVING APES:
FAMILY: PONGIDAE (chimp's, gorillas, oragnutans)
FAMILY: HYLOBATIDAE (gibbons)
HUMANS & ANCESTORS:
FAMILY: HOMINIDAE
**older species foundArdipithecus ramidus (one of oldest known bipeds)
GENUS: AUSTRALOPITHECUS (eg. Lucy-A. afarensis, 3.2 million
years, bipedal, 1m tall)
GENUS: AUSTRALOPITHECINE
-at least six different species
-bipedal locomotion; rounded jaws
-lived on ground in grasslands of eastern & southern Africa
GENUS: HOMO – found in Africa(2.4-1.6 million years)
SPECIES: HABILIS
-first to use stone tools rountinely, still climbed trees although walked on
ground too
-gave rise to H. erectus
SPECIES: ERECTUS (1.6 million years)
-larger brains, prominent brow ridges, rounded jaws, massive teeth
-migrated to Asia and Europe
-use of fire (and stone tools)
-may have given rise to next few species
SPECIES: SAPIENS (130 000 years appeared in Africa while Neanderthals already
in Asia and Europe)
-larger brains, reduced teeth, enlargement of rear of skulls
-migrated a second time to replace H. erectus
SPECIES: NEANDERTHALS (NEANDERTHALENSIS)
(Europe and W. Asia from 70 000 -32 000 yrs ago)
-short, stocky, tool users, clothing, huts, buried dead
-heavily built, made tools, performed burial ceremonies, complex
speech????
SPECIES:CRO-MAGNONS (replaced and interbred with
neanderthals)
-stone, bone, ivory, antler tools -> hunters
-language, cave paintings
MODERN
-associated with extinctions of plants & animals as moved
-significantly extended period of dependent
childhood
-use tools to alter the environment and adapt it to
their advantage rather than adapt physically to their
environment
Selective advantages to bipedalism: -greater speed and efficiency
-enhanced ability to gather and carry food
-see over tall grass
