V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? - with a divergence of two types of hominids around 2 mya

V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? - with a divergence of two types of hominids around 2 mya

V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? - with a divergence of two types of hominids around 2 mya “slender” species

V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? - with a divergence of two types of hominids around 2 mya “slender” species “robust” species

V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? - with a divergence of two types of hominids around 2 mya Primitive species, with their bipedality disputed. Are they on the human line? The chimp line? Ancestral to both? Can’t tell – they are so INTERMEDIATE….

Morphological cladogram

Human Evolution I. What are humans related to? Apes II. How do we differ? III. Resolution? IV. Are there common ancestors? V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? VI. When did these changes evolve?

Human Evolution I. What are humans related to? Apes II. How do we differ? III. Resolution? IV. Are there common ancestors? V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? VI. When did these changes evolve? - The distinguishing traits of hominids are erect gait and large brain.

And, as we’ve discussed, Australopithecus afarensis walked erect.

A. Afarensis prints at Laetoli, approximately 3.56 myr, were made by an obligate biped: - heel strike. - Lateral transmission of force from the heel to the base of the lateral metatarsal. - A well-developed medial longitudinal arch. - Adducted big toe, in front of the ball of the foot and parallel to the other digits. - A deep impression for the big toe commensurate with toe-off.

- A tibia from A. anamensis found in 1994 is oldest direct evidence of bipedality (4.1 mya)

Human Evolution I. What are humans related to? Apes II. How do we differ? III. Resolution? IV. Are there common ancestors? V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? VI. When did these changes evolve? - The distinguishing traits of hominids are erect gait and large brain. - Erect gait came first…

Human Evolution I. What are humans related to? Apes II. How do we differ? III. Resolution? IV. Are there common ancestors? V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? VI. When did these changes evolve? - The distinguishing traits of Hominids are erect gait and large brain. - Erect gait came first… - Brain size increase was later, particularly with Homo habilis and H. erectus..

Human Evolution I. What are humans related to? Apes II. How do we differ? III. Resolution? IV. Are there common ancestors? V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? VI. When did these changes evolve? VII. Why did these changes occur?

- Walking Erect: Adaptive in the expanding dry grasslands.

VII. Why did these changes occur? - Walking Erect: Adaptive in the expanding dry grasslands.

VII. Why did these changes occur? - Increased Brain Size: - walking erect frees the hands for activity - With tools use (seen in Homo habilis), animals could be killed. This increases protein in diet, needed for growth (particularly the brain).

Human Evolution I. What are humans related to? Apes II. How do we differ? III. Resolution? IV. Are there common ancestors? V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? VI. When did these changes evolve? VII. Why did these changes occur? VIII. And what of our species?

- From Africa 200,000 years ago (earliest fossils, genetic variability, etc.)

VIII. And what of our species? - From Africa 200,000 years ago (earliest fossils, genetic variability, etc.) - Bands of hunter gatherers

VIII. And what of our species? - From Africa 200,000 years ago (earliest fossils, genetic variability, etc.) - Bands of hunter gatherers - Cave Art about 30,000 years ago

VIII. And what of our species? - From Africa 200,000 years ago (earliest fossils, genetic variability, etc.) - Bands of hunter gatherers - Cave Art about 30,000 years ago - 14,000 years ago, bands settled in different areas of the globe and began to grow local crops. First Agricultural Revolution….

Where and when: Sahel? West Africa? Ethiopia? Fertile Crescent China New Guinea Andes Amazon? Mesoamerica Eastern U. S.

5.0 mya 1.75 mya tools art 0.2 mya burial 75,000 agriculture 14,000 …to chimps 99.6% before art HUMAN PREHISTORY – Where did humans come from?

Human Evolution I. What are humans related to? Apes II. How do we differ? III. Resolution? IV. Are there common ancestors? V. Are there intermediate links to modern humans? VI. When did these changes evolve? VII. Why did these changes occur? VIII. And what of our species? IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff!

- Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life:

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - common ancestry from primitive forms

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - common ancestry from primitive forms - new innovation in new environment (bipedality as climate changed…)

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - common ancestry from primitive forms - new innovation in new environment (bipedality as climate changed…) - radiation of species with this trait (bipedalism)

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - common ancestry from primitive forms - new innovation in new environment (bipedality as climate changed…) - radiation of species with this trait (bipedalism) - competitive contraction and a winner (H. sapiens)

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - New Stuff!

Nature Oct 28, 2004

Homo floresiensis – Nature, Oct. 28, And there are new surprizes all the time…

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - New Stuff! Island species are often either dwarf species or giant species:

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - New Stuff! Island species are often either dwarf species or giant species: - dwarf because resources might be limiting

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - New Stuff! Island species are often either dwarf species or giant species: - dwarf because resources might be limiting - giant if niches are open

IX. Evolutionary patterns and new stuff! - Hominids provide all the classical patterns of evolution seen in the rest of life: - New Stuff! - Conclusion: Rather than lacking evidence, the history of humans provides one of the BEST examples in support of evolution by common descent.