Evolutionary Changes in Primates

 

Gorilla

Australopithecus

Modern Human

face area

 

 

 

brain area

 

 

 

ratio of face area to brain area

 

 

 

cranial capacity

 

 

 

jaw angle

 

 

 

distance across back of jaw

 

 

 

distance across front of jaw

 

 

 

ratio of back to front distances

 

 

 

number of teeth in lower jaw

 

 

 

number of each type of tooth

 

 

 

sagittal crest

 

 

 

brow ridge

 

 

 
  1. How do Australopithecus and gorilla compare in terms of cranial capacity, lower jaw shape, and jaw angle?
  2. Which of those traits does Australopithecus seem to share with modern humans?
  3. Using face area to brain area ratios, does Australopithecus more closely resemble gorilla or modern human?
  4. List the traits used in this investigation that are similar in modern human and gorilla.
  5. List the traits used in this investigation that are similar in Australopithecus and modern human.
  6. List the traits in this investigation not mentioned above that are similar in gorilla and Australopithecus.
  7. Explain the differences in face area to brain area ratios in gorilla, Australopithecus, and modern human.
  8. Explain the differences in jaw angles in the three skulls.
  9. Explain the differences in lower jaw shapes in the three skulls.
  10. Suppose you find a distorted jawbone and note that there are 16 teeth in it. Explain why this information may or may not be helpful in determining whether the fossil is from a recent or early human or gorilla.
  11. Suppose you find a distorted jawbone with most of the teeth missing. The canine teeth, however, are present and appear to be quite large. Which animal might this jaw be from?
  12. Suppose you find only the top portion of a skull. No sagittal crest seems to be present, nor is there any evidence that one may have ever been present. Which organism might this skill be from? Explain.
  13. Suppose you find a skull with 22 teeth. Might this skull be from a primate? Explain.
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