Download Chapter 8 Hominid Origins

Chapter 8
Hominid Origins
Key Terms

Biocultural
Pertaining to the concept that biology makes
culture possible and that culture influences
biology.

Mosaic evolution
A pattern of evolution in which the rate of
evolution in one functional system varies from
that in other systems. For example, in
hominid evolution, the dental system,
locomotor system, and neurological system
(especially the brain) all evolved at markedly
different rates.

Bipedal locomotion
Walking on two feet. Walking habitually on
two legs is the single most distinctive feature
of the hominids.

Obligate bipedalism
Bipedalism as the only form of hominid
terrestrial locomotion. Since major anatomical
changes in the spine, pelvis, and lower limb
are required for bipedal locomotion, once
hominids adapted to this mode of locomotion,
other forms of locomotion on the ground
became impossible.

Habitual bipedalism
Bipedal locomotion is the form of locomotion
shown by hominids most of the time.

Protohominids
The earliest members of the hominid lineage,
as yet only barely represented in the fossil
record. Thus, their structure and, especially,
behavior are reconstructed hypothetically.

Multidisciplinary
Pertaining to research that involves mutual
contributions and cooperation of several
different experts from various scientific fields
(i.e., disciplines).

Sites
Locations of discoveries. In paleontology and
archaeology, a site may refer to a region
where a number of discoveries have been
made.

Faunal
Referring to animal remains; in archaeology,
specifically refers to the fossil remains of
animals.

Chronometric
Referring to a dating technique that gives an
estimate in actual number of years .

Artifacts
Traces of hominid behavior. Very old ones are
usually made of stone.

Postcranial
In a quadruped, referring to that portion of the
body behind the head; in a biped, referring to
all parts of the body beneath the head (i.e.,
from the neck down).

Australopithecus
An early hominid genus, known from the PlioPleistocene of Africa, characterized by
bipedal locomotion, a relatively small brain,
and large back teeth.

Paranthropus
A genus of early hominid characterized by
very large back teeth and jaws. Frequently,
this genus is combined into Australopithecus.

Australopithecines
The colloquial name for members of the
genus Australopithecus. The term was first
used as a subfamily designation, but is now
mostly used informally.

Sectorial
Adapted for cutting or shearing; among
primates, refers to the compressed (side-toside) first lower premolar, which functions as
a shearing surface with the upper canine.

Plio-Pleistocene
Pertaining to the Pliocene and first half of the
Pleistocene, a time range of 5–1 m.y.a. For
this time period, many early fossil hominids
have been found in Africa.

Homo habilis
A species of early Homo, well known from
East Africa but perhaps also found in other
regions.

Endocast
A solid impression of the inside of the skull,
often preserving details relating to the size
and surface features of the brain.

Phylogeny
A schematic representation showing
ancestor-descendant relationships, usually in
a chronological framework.