Flashcards
1 of 15
Human Evolution | Definitions
Deck complete
You’ve reviewed 15 terms. Keep up the good work!
tap to flip
Human Evolution | Definitions
Primates
Members of the mammalian order Primates, which includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans
Hominoids
Members of the primate superfamily, Hominoidea, which includes apes and humans
Ape
A large primate that lacks a tail, including the gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan and gibbon
Hominins
The modern human species and our extinct close relatives that could walk erect on their hind legs in a sustained manner
Bipedal
The ability to walk upright on two legs
Prehensile
Adapted for grasping or holding
Pentadactyl
Having five fingers or toes on a hand or foot
Arboreal
Living in trees
Common ancestor
The form that is ancestral to two evolutionary lines
Foramen magnum
A large opening at the base of the skull through which the brain connects the spinal cord
Biological evolution
Changes in human populations that have resulted from natural selection acting over generations on inherited phenotypes and produced different survival and reproduction techniques under a particular set of environmental conditions
Cultural evolution
Socially transmitted changes in human lifestyle
Technological evolution
Changes in technology over time that give humans increased control over their environment
Out of Africa theory
All modern humans originated in Africa and spread in successive waves to the rest of the world, replacing other populations without interbreeding
Multiregional theory
Modern humans evolved indepedently in many regions all over the world and remained similar enough to interbreed
Cut dotted horizontal lines. Fold vertical line.
Primates
Members of the mammalian order Primates, which includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans
Hominoids
Members of the primate superfamily, Hominoidea, which includes apes and humans
Ape
A large primate that lacks a tail, including the gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan and gibbon
Hominins
The modern human species and our extinct close relatives that could walk erect on their hind legs in a sustained manner
Bipedal
The ability to walk upright on two legs
Prehensile
Adapted for grasping or holding
Pentadactyl
Having five fingers or toes on a hand or foot
Arboreal
Living in trees
Common ancestor
The form that is ancestral to two evolutionary lines
Foramen magnum
A large opening at the base of the skull through which the brain connects the spinal cord
Biological evolution
Changes in human populations that have resulted from natural selection acting over generations on inherited phenotypes and produced different survival and reproduction techniques under a particular set of environmental conditions
Cultural evolution
Socially transmitted changes in human lifestyle
Technological evolution
Changes in technology over time that give humans increased control over their environment
Out of Africa theory
All modern humans originated in Africa and spread in successive waves to the rest of the world, replacing other populations without interbreeding
Multiregional theory
Modern humans evolved indepedently in many regions all over the world and remained similar enough to interbreed