Evidence for Evolution

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Evidence for Evolution

• Fossils
• Comparative Anatomy
• Molecular and Developmental Biology
• Biogeography

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Anthropoids (suborder Anthropoidea)
Suborder Tarsiiformes
Suborder Prosimii
Hominoids
Hylobatidae
Pongidae
Hominidae
New World monkeys
Old World monkeys
Lemurs
Tarsiers
Gibbons
Orangutans
Gorillas
Chimpanzees
Humans
Common hominoid ancestor
Common hominoid ancestor
Common anthropoid ancestor
Common primate ancestor
Fig. 21.02
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• Using the calipers, measure the maximum width of
  the brain case (cranium),
• the length of the brain case which is defined as
  the length from the bridge of the nose to the
  base of the cranium and
• the maximum height by putting the skull on its
  side and measuring from the hole underneath (the
  foramen magnum) to the intersection of two
  sutures on the top of the cranium (the coronal
  and sagittal).
• Add these three and divide by three.
• Indicate the presence or absence of and the
  relative size (height and length) of the sagittal
  crest a bony ridge along the top of the skull
  to which large chewing muscles attach.
• Use a ruler and protractor to measure the angle
  of the face. Use figure 2.0 as a guide.

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Sagittal keel
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Human and Gorilla heads
Face Angle
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• Examine the skull for the existence of a muzzle
  or snout. A protrusion of parts of the face
  below the eyes is referred to as prognathism.
• The supraorbital browridge is a bony ridge
  protruding above the eyes. Indicate on the data
  chart if this feature is present or absent and
  its relative size (large, small, medium)
• The arch or shape of the jaw is the dental
  arcade. It will be either box shaped (with the
  sides parallel), U shaped (parabolic sides), or
  V shaped (intermediate). Indicate the shape of
  the dental arcade for each skull in the data
  table.
• The large opening in the base of the skull
  through which the spinal cord passes is called
  the foramen magnum.
• Count the number of teeth in the upper jaw and
  list them according to the number of incisors,
  canine, premolars, and molars.
• The canine is the third tooth from the center of
  the top and bottom jaw. Describe them as long or
  short sharp or dull. Is there a diastema (gap
  between the upper incisors and canines) present?
• Describe any unusual and unique features for each
  skull.

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• List the trends you observed in hominid
  evolution.
• Which traits distinguish Homo sapiens from
  Gorilla gorilla?
• How is Neanderthalensis different from
  Australopithecus afarensis?
• Based on your measurements, is Australopithecus
  afaresis more closely related to humans or
  gorillas?
• You have been on a dig at Olduvai Gorge and were
  lucky enough to find fragments of a skull that
  include the lower jaw. What traits would
  indicate that the specimen is a hominid? Explain
  why those traits would be indicative.
• Based on your measurements, what is the identity
  of the unknown skull? Support your conclusion
  with data!