NAME FA 21

A 141L VIRTUAL LAB PACKET #3 – Our Place in the Primate Family Tree

PALEOCENE PLESIADAPIFORMS
Develop illustrated reports summarizing what is known of TWO of the following forms. For each fossil species that you select, tell in what geographic area or areas the fossil evidence for each form has been found, give the approximate age of the fossils, tell what dating techniques were used to date them. and what scientists think the areas were like when the fossil forms lived there. For extant primates, describe what scientists have discovered about the biological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations of the species. For both fossil and extant forms, describe and illustrate what is known of the skull, (the brain, the sensory systems, the masticatory apparatus {jaws, jaw muscles, dentition}, and post-cranial skeletal structure (thorax, shoulders, arms, and hands, hips, legs, and feet}. Also, provide labelled illustrations of a whole skeleton reconstruction, as well as a full body restoration, illustration, or photograph of an adult of the species. For species that show notable differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism, dichromatism, etc.) provide a {color?} illustration of a typical adult male and female of the species, if available. Finally, describe the observed or inferred preferred habitat(s), locomotor pattern(s), diet, and life ways of each form.

• Purgatorius (Early Paleocene, North America)
• Carpolestes (Paleocene-Early Eocene, North America)
• Plesiadapis Paleocene, North America, Eurasia)

EOCENE EUPRIMATES
Develop illustrated reports summarizing what is known of TWO of the following forms. For each fossil species that you select, tell in what geographic area or areas the fossil evidence for each form has been found, give the approximate age of the fossils, tell what dating techniques were used to date them. and what scientists think the areas were like when the fossil forms lived there. For extant primates, describe what scientists have discovered about the biological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations of the species. For both fossil and extant forms, describe and illustrate what is known of the skull, (the brain, the sensory systems, the masticatory apparatus {jaws, jaw muscles, dentition}, and post-cranial skeletal structure (thorax, shoulders, arms, and hands, hips, legs, and feet}. Also, provide labelled illustrations of a whole skeleton reconstruction, as well as a full body restoration, illustration, or photograph of an adult of the species. For species that show notable differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism, dichromatism, etc.) provide a {color?} illustration of a typical adult male and female of the species, if available. Finally, describe the observed or inferred preferred habitat(s), locomotor pattern(s), diet, and life ways of each form.

1. Teilhardina (Early Eocene) Asia, Europe, North America
2. Notharctus (Early Eocene, North America
3. Darwinius (Middle Eocene, ≈47 Mya) Messel, Germany

 
LEMURS (LEMUROIDS) OF MADAGASCAR
Develop illustrated reports summarizing what is known of TWO of the following forms. For each fossil species that you select, tell in what geographic area or areas the fossil evidence for each form has been found, give the approximate age of the fossils, tell what dating techniques were used to date them. and what scientists think the areas were like when the fossil forms lived there. For extant primates, describe what scientists have discovered about the biological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations of the species. For both fossil and extant forms, describe and illustrate what is known of the skull, (the brain, the sensory systems, the masticatory apparatus {jaws, jaw muscles, dentition}, and post-cranial skeletal structure (thorax, shoulders, arms, and hands, hips, legs, and feet}. Also, provide labelled illustrations of a whole skeleton reconstruction, as well as a full body restoration, illustration, or photograph of an adult of the species. For species that show notable differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism, dichromatism, etc.) provide a {color?} illustration of a typical adult male and female of the species, if available. Finally, describe the observed or inferred preferred habitat(s), locomotor pattern(s), diet, and life ways of each form.

1. Aye aye (extant, Madagascar)
2. Indri (extant, Madagascar)
3. Megaladapis (subfossil, <2000 ybp, Madagascar)   EARLY ANTHROPOIDS Develop illustrated reports summarizing what is known of TWO of the following forms. For each fossil species that you select, tell in what geographic area or areas the fossil evidence for each form has been found, give the approximate age of the fossils, tell what dating techniques were used to date them. and what scientists think the areas were like when the fossil forms lived there. For extant primates, describe what scientists have discovered about the biological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations of the species. For both fossil and extant forms, describe and illustrate what is known of the skull, (the brain, the sensory systems, the masticatory apparatus {jaws, jaw muscles, dentition}, and post-cranial skeletal structure (thorax, shoulders, arms, and hands, hips, legs, and feet}. Also, provide labelled illustrations of a whole skeleton reconstruction, as well as a full body restoration, illustration, or photograph of an adult of the species. For species that show notable differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism, dichromatism, etc.) provide a {color?} illustration of a typical adult male and female of the species, if available. Finally, describe the observed or inferred preferred habitat(s), locomotor pattern(s), diet, and life ways of each form. 1. Aegyptopithecus zeuxis (30 Ma, Fayum, Egypt) 2. Proconsul ( or Ekembo) heseloni (18-20 Ma, East Africa) 3. Afropithecus turkanensis (15-17 Ma, East Africa) 4. Sahelanthropus tchadensis (6-7 mya, Chad, Central Africa)  EXTANT HOMINOIDS Develop illustrated reports summarizing what is known of TWO of the following forms. For each fossil species that you select, tell in what geographic area or areas the fossil evidence for each form has been found, give the approximate age of the fossils, tell what dating techniques were used to date them. and what scientists think the areas were like when the fossil forms lived there. For extant primates, describe what scientists have discovered about the biological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations of the species. For both fossil and extant forms, describe and illustrate what is known of the skull, (the brain, the sensory systems, the masticatory apparatus {jaws, jaw muscles, dentition}, and post-cranial skeletal structure (thorax, shoulders, arms, and hands, hips, legs, and feet}. Also, provide labelled illustrations of a whole skeleton reconstruction, as well as a full body restoration, illustration, or photograph of an adult of the species. For species that show notable differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism, dichromatism, etc.) provide a {color?} illustration of a typical adult male and female of the species, if available. Finally, describe the observed or inferred preferred habitat(s), locomotor pattern(s), diet, and life ways of each form. Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Bonobo (Pan paniscus)   EARLY HOMININS Develop illustrated reports summarizing what is known of TWO of the following forms. For each fossil species that you select, tell in what geographic area or areas the fossil evidence for each form has been found, give the approximate age of the fossils, tell what dating techniques were used to date them. and what scientists think the areas were like when the fossil forms lived there. For extant primates, describe what scientists have discovered about the biological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations of the species. For both fossil and extant forms, describe and illustrate what is known of the skull, (the brain, the sensory systems, the masticatory apparatus {jaws, jaw muscles, dentition}, and post-cranial skeletal structure (thorax, shoulders, arms, and hands, hips, legs, and feet}. Also, provide labelled illustrations of a whole skeleton reconstruction, as well as a full body restoration, illustration, or photograph of an adult of the species. For species that show notable differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism, dichromatism, etc.) provide a {color?} illustration of a typical adult male and female of the species, if available. Finally, describe the observed or inferred preferred habitat(s), locomotor pattern(s), diet, and life ways of each form. 1. Ardipithecus ramidus 2. Australopithecus afarensis 3. Australopithecus sediba (1.9 mya, Malapa, South Africa) 4. Paranthropus (or Australopithecus) boisei >2.3-≈1.1 mya

 
HOMO HABILIS, HOMO ERECTUS, AND HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS
Develop illustrated reports summarizing what is known of TWO of the following forms. For each fossil species that you select, tell in what geographic area or areas the fossil evidence for each form has been found, give the approximate age of the fossils, tell what dating techniques were used to date them. and what scientists think the areas were like when the fossil forms lived there. For extant primates, describe what scientists have discovered about the biological, ecological, and behavioral adaptations of the species. For both fossil and extant forms, describe and illustrate what is known of the skull, (the brain, the sensory systems, the masticatory apparatus {jaws, jaw muscles, dentition}, and post-cranial skeletal structure (thorax, shoulders, arms, and hands, hips, legs, and feet}. Also, provide labelled illustrations of a whole skeleton reconstruction, as well as a full body restoration, illustration, or photograph of an adult of the species. For species that show notable differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism, dichromatism, etc.) provide a {color?} illustration of a typical adult male and female of the species, if available. Finally, describe the observed or inferred preferred habitat(s), locomotor pattern(s), diet, and life ways of each form.
Also, describe the lithic technology found in association with each. Be sure to include diagrams and discussions of the stone tools typical of each species that you select.
1. Homo habilis (also referred to as early or as Homo rudolfensis or just Early Homo)
Associated lithic technology: Oldowan Industry: simple pebble and flake tools
2. African Homo erectus (sometimes referred to as Homo ergaster).
Associated lithic technology: Acheulean Industry
3. Homo heidelbergensis (African specimens are sometimes been referred to Homo rhodesiensis) Associated lithic technology: African Middle Stone Age featuring large bifaces, prepared core tools, as well as increased use of materials such as bone and wood to make tools such as carved wooden spears. Also, some hominin groups had control of fire by as early as 780,000 ybp.

 
NEANDERTHALS (HOMO NEANDERTHALENSIS)
Investigate and develop illustrated summaries describing what is known or has been inferred regarding the of the anatomical and behavioral characteristics typical of the extinct species referred to as the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis). Do your best to describe and illustrate what has been observed or inferred regarding the skull and facial form, cranial capacity, masticatory apparatus (jaws, jaw muscles, dentition), sensory systems, post-cranial skeletal structure typical of Neanderthals.

Also illustrate the tool kit, including both the stone tools and any other artifacts typical of the Neanderthals (referred to as the Mousterian Industry), and what archaeological evidence indicates as far as their probable group size, social structure, subsistence patterns, life ways, etc.

Finally, tell why scientists think the Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago.

 
EARLY MODERN HOMO SAPIENS (SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE CRO MAGNON PEOPLES)
Investigate and develop illustrated summaries describing what is known or has been inferred regarding the anatomical and behavioral adaptations of early modern HOMO SAPIENS (sometimes referred to as the Cro Magnon peoples) when early modern humans (i.e. Cro Magnons) spread across Europe starting about 45,000 years ago. Do your best to describe and illustrate what has been observed or inferred regarding the skull and facial form, cranial capacity, masticatory apparatus (jaws, jaw muscles, dentition), and post-cranial skeletal structure of these early modern peoples.

Also, illustrate and describe the array of artifacts present in the Cro Magnon people’s Upper Paleolithic tool kits, including stone blades, stone and bone spear and harpoon points, ornaments, symbolic objects, carved animal figurines, musical instruments, cave paintings, etc. Finally, explain what available archaeological evidence indicates as far as their probable group size, social structure, subsistence patterns, life ways, etc.