ANP 206 Final: ANP 206 - Section 3 Lecture 1 Study Guide
Document Summary
Explain the nature of the fossil sampling problem. Evolution is branching, thus making it extremely difficult to trace the origins of primates. Anthropologists must construct their series of evolution by looking at fossilized remains and inferring what their lifestyle was like millions of years ago, along with their environments. Fossilized remains are often not fully complete and it is extremely difficult to trace new and old traits through evolutionary lines because of this. You will be asked to define the mosaic nature of fossil species. Mosaic evolution: evolutionary changes take place in stages and not all at once. Thus, we see a lot of indeterminate forms that lack modern characteristics. This often makes linking fossil species to descendant living species difficult. Hominoid: all apes and humans, both present and past. Hominin: humans and their ancestors following split with chimpanzees. Hominid: humans and the great apes (thus, not including gibbons) List and define the epochs of the cenozoic era.
