Paleontology Unit Review:
1. Explain what it means to be a primate.
2. Describe the following adaptations of primate:
a. Binocular vision –
b. Opposable thumbsc. Grasping Hands –
3. What is the benefit of binocular vision?
4.
Describe FOUR adaptations of all primates. Why are they beneficial?
5.
Give an example of each group of primate and briefly describe a characteristic of each group.
a. prosimians, new world monkeys, old world monkeys, apes)
6. What are the two subgroups of primates? Describe the characteristics of each group.
7. Describe the difference between humans and other primates (apes). Use pg. 149 in your book for reference.
8. What does it mean to be bipedal?
9. What caused large brains to evolve?
10. What is a hominid? Name a few examples from the skull lab.
11. What are the differences between the genus Australopithecus and homo? Describe the characteristics of each.
12. Compare the size of the skeletal structure between australopithecines and more modern hominids.
13. List FOUR advantages and FOUR disadvantages of being bipedal on the African savanna.
14. Fill out the chart below for the skull lab characteristics to compare early hominids and modern hominids.
Describe the characteristic and circle the proper description.
Characteristic
Early hominids/
Modern hominids
ape-like
Sagittal Crest
Present or Absent
Present or Absent
Description:
Prognathism
Description:
Big or Small
Big or Small
Supra-orbital Ridge
Description:
Big or Small
Big or Small
U or V
U or V
Braincase Volume
Description:
Big or Small
Big or Small
Forehead
Description:
Big or Small
Big or Small
Facial Slope
Description:
Big or Small
Big or Small
Dental Arcade
Description:
15. What is the earliest hominid? Most modern?
16. Where did the earliest hominid evolve and when?
17. What other hominid coexisted with modern humans?
18. When did Homo sapiens first appear in the geologic timeline?