ANTH 1120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Foramen Magnum, Mosaic Evolution, Hominini
16 Sep 2015
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The text and hominin versus hominid (genetics and morphology) Mosaic evolution: different complexes in organisms have independent evolutionary histories and have changed at different time/rates in fossil record. Changes in dental morphology, bipedalism and the brain didn"t happen all at the same rate (not happening together, not smooth transition it is jumpy) Hominid: the way things look in the body (morphologically inspired) Hominin: better reflects genetic understanding (i. e. closer genetic relationships between humans and some non-human primates) Anatomical classification of hominoid is very different to genetic classification. What makes a hominin: bigger brain (encephalized), obligate bipedalism, smaller teeth/jaw generalized (but with caveats) not specialized anymore like very sharp etc. not highly specific. Bipedalism changes to skeleton: laetoli footprint 3. 7 mya in east africa. Seeing footprints (not just the bones) helped with understanding gait: changes in the pelvis help ensure staying upright.
