1. Science Rocks! The Great Apes How are apes related to humans?
Chimpanzee
Science Rocks!
Bonobos
Orangutan
Gorilla

2. Apes and Humans What characteristics do they have in common?
What characteristics are different?

3. A. Characteristics of all primates
I. Similarities
A. Characteristics of all primates
1. Binocular vision:
Eyes both on the front of the head.
Each eye sees a slightly different view
of the same scene and the brain merges
them to allow depth perception.
2. Flat finger nails
3. Five flexible fingers (four fingers and an opposable thumb)
Most primates (besides humans) also have opposable big toes
Gorilla Foot

4. How are humans different from other primates?
II. Differences
How are humans different from other primates?
A. Bipedal (“2 legs”)  skeleton is adapted for walking upright
Human pelvis is vertical (holds skeleton upright)
Gorilla pelvis tips ribcage, head, and neck forward
Human spine is “S” shaped
Gorilla spine is “C” shaped

5. B. Opposable Toes
Humans do NOT have opposable big toes (only opposable thumbs).
Other primates have both opposable thumbs and opposable big toes so they can hold onto things with their feet as well as their hands.

6. C. Cranial Structure
Foramen magnum  Hole in the skull where the spine enters
Human: Spine enters at bottom of skull
Gorilla: Spine enters near rear of skull
In what other ways are human skulls different from apes?

7. 1. Supra-Orbital Ridge
Small
Large

8. 2. Prognathism (snout)
Non existent (small)
Large

9. Prognathism (snout)

10. 3. Dental Arcade
Parabolic Sides “V shaped”
Parallel Sides “U shaped”

11. 4. Sagittal Crest
Large
Non existent (small)

12. 5. Types of Teeth

13. Chin

14. 6. Facial Slope

15. Facial Slope

16. Using a Caliper

17. 7. Reading a Caliper

18. Reading a Caliper

19. Using a Caliper

20. Using a Caliper
14.0mm

21. Cranium Capacity
Length
Width

22. Cranium Capacity

23. The relative size of the brain
8. Cranial Area
The relative size of the brain
Your measurement will NOT be the actual volume, but it will allow you to compare the volume to the other skulls.

24. Cranial Area First, determine where the brain sits in the skull.
Use calipers or ruler to measure Length and Width in centimeters (cm)

25. Cranial Area BE CONSISTENT!
Make sure you estimate and measure the same time (same group member) for every skull.