1. Human Evolution

2. Classification Homo sapiens sapiens Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata
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Homo sapiens sapiens
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Hominidae
Genus Homo
Species Sapiens
Subspecies Sapiens

3. Classification Humans are primates
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Classification
Humans are primates
Shared most recent ancestor with chimpanzees ~6 mya

4. What is a Primate? Mammals with:
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Mammals with:
Long fingers and toes with nails instead of claws
Flexible joints and limbs
Binocular vision
Well-developed cerebrum
Most adaptations for arboreal (tree-dwelling) life

5. Long Fingers and Toes Allows firm grip
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Long Fingers and Toes
Allows firm grip
Claws became nails to allow advanced grips

6. Opposable Thumbs Thumbs that can move against the other digits,
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Opposable Thumbs
Thumbs that can move against the other digits,
Allows power grip and precision grip
Most primates have these

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Flexible Joints
Limbs can rotate in broad circles around a strong shoulder joint
Strong clavicle (collar bone)
Well suited for climbing

8. Binocular Vision Ability to combine visual images from both eyes
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Binocular Vision
Ability to combine visual images from both eyes
Provides depth perception and a three-dimensional view of the world

9. Large Cerebrum “Thinking” part of the brain is large and intricate
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Large Cerebrum
“Thinking” part of the brain is large and intricate
Enables
Complex behaviors
Critical thinking
Reasoning
Many primates create elaborate social systems

10. Human Evolution Humans are unique because of Bipedalism Large brains
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Human Evolution
Humans are unique because of
Bipedalism
Large brains
Advanced tool use
Language and advanced culture

11. Bipedalism Walking on two legs Many skeletal changes
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Walking on two legs
Many skeletal changes
Pelvis, hips, knees, back, etc.
Main advantage: tool use

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Bipedalism

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Brain Size Increased

14. Jaws and Teeth got Smaller
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Jaws and Teeth got Smaller
Shift away from plant material in diet

15. Ancient Hominines Australopithecus afarensis
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Ancient Hominines Australopithecus afarensis
“Lucy” is one of the most famous human ancestor skeletons
Lived mya
Bipedal apes but still very apelike
Diet rich in fruit
Good climber
Spent significant time in trees

16. Ancient Hominines Homo habilis
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Ancient Hominines Homo habilis
Means “handy man”
Significant tool crafting and use
Speech possible

17. Ancient Hominines Homo erectus
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Ancient Hominines Homo erectus
1.9 and 0.3 mya.
Extremely successful and widespread
Larger brain and flatter face than Homo habilis
Much taller than previous hominids
First hominid known to use fire

18. Ancient Hominines Homo erectus
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Ancient Hominines Homo erectus

19. Ancient Hominines Homo neanderthalensis
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Ancient Hominines Homo neanderthalensis
200,000 years ago
Massive brow ridges with protruding nose, jaws, and teeth
Heavily muscled
Culturally advanced
Manufactured variety of tools
Still traces of Neanderthal DNA in humans today

20. Ancient Hominines Homo sapiens
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Ancient Hominines Homo sapiens
~200,000 years ago
Cro Magnon is name for early humans
Advanced tools, communication, and culture
Entered Europe ~100,000 years ago
Interbred with Neanderthals
Only hominine for past 24,000 years

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