ANTH 102 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Orrorin, Laetoli, Homo Habilis
Hominid Timeframe Cranial Features Postcranial Anantomy
Culture/Interesting
Facts
Geographic
Location
Sahelanthropus
tchadensis
7-6 mya
Flat face, u-shaped dental arcade,
small canines, anterior foramen
magnum, heavy Brow ridges, small
cranial capacity (320-380 cm3)
none recovered N/A Chad
Orrorin Tugenensis ~6 mya Gracile teeth
bipedal, size of modern
chimp
At least 5 individuals Kenya
Ardipithecus 5.8-4.4 mya
Dentition is transitional between apes
and Australopithecines
Bipedal with opposable great
toe
Associated fauna indicate
that it may have been a
forest dweller; over 35
individuals discovered
Ethiopia
Australopithecus
anamensis
4.2-3.9 mya
Thick enamel on molars, sectorial
premolars, prognathic
bipedal, with climbing
capabilities
Oldest Australopithecine Kenya, Ethiopia
Australopithecus
afarensis
3.9-2.9 mya
(Gracile) Low, sloping forehead, large
canines in males, cranial capacity ~420
c.c., thick tooth enamel, prognathic
bipedal, with climbing
capabilities
Lucy, Laetoli footprints,
"First Family", Selam, etc.
Possibly made/used
earliest know stone tools
(Lomekwian 3.3 mya)
Ethiopia,
Tanzania
Australopithecus
africanus
3-2.3 mya
(Gracile) prognathic face, smaller front
teeth, parabolic dental arcade
3.8-4.5 ft tall, bipedal,
retained climbing capabilities
First Australopithecine
ever discovered,
Raymond Dart
South Africa
Australopithecus
garhi
2.5 mya
(Intermediate) Large teeth, but arched
dental arcade like humans
bipedal Ethiopia
Australopithecus
(Paranthropus)
aethiopicus
2.5 mya
(Robust) large teeth and chewing
apparatus, large muscle attachments,
410-530 c.c.
bipedal Kenya
Australopithecus
(Paranthropus)
boisei
2.3-1.2 mya
(Robust) large teeth and chewing
apparatus, dished face, large muscle
attachments, 500-530 c.c.
4.1-4.5 ft tall, bipedal
Discovered by Leakey's at
Olduvai in 1959
Tanzania
Australopithecus
(Paranthropus)
robustus
2-1 mya
(Robust) large teeth and chewing
apparatus, large muscle attachments
bipedal South Africa
Australopithecus
sediba
1.98-1.97 mya
(Gracile) 420–450 c.c., mandible and
teeth are gracile too.
bipedal, 1.3m tall, efficient
walker, precision grip with
hand
6 skeletons discovered in
the Malapa Fossil Site at
the Cradle of
Humankind World Heritage
Site
South Africa
Homo habilis/ Homo
rudolphensis
2.5-1.6 mya
500-750 c.c., Smaller teeth than
Australopiths, thinner cranial bones
3.5-4 ft tall, modern feet (but
very small)
Made some of the first stone
tools (Oldowan Tool tradition-
-for scavenging meat)
Ethiopia, Kenya,
Tanzania, South
Africa
Document Summary
Flat face, u-shaped dental arcade, small canines, anterior foramen magnum, heavy brow ridges, small cranial capacity (320-380 cm3) Thick enamel on molars, sectorial bipedal, with climbing premolars, prognathic capabilities. 3. 9-2. 9 mya (gracile) low, sloping forehead, large canines in males, cranial capacity ~420 c. c. , thick tooth enamel, prognathic bipedal, with climbing capabilities. 3. 8-4. 5 ft tall, bipedal, teeth, parabolic dental arcade retained climbing capabilities (intermediate) large teeth, but arched dental arcade like humans (robust) large teeth and chewing bipedal (paranthropus) 2. 5 mya apparatus, large muscle attachments, bipedal aethiopicus. 410-530 c. c. (robust) large teeth and chewing (paranthropus) 2-1 mya robustus attachments, 500-530 c. c. (robust) large teeth and chewing apparatus, large muscle attachments bipedal. 1. 98-1. 97 mya (gracile) 420 450 c. c. , mandible and teeth are gracile too. bipedal, 1. 3m tall, efficient walker, precision grip with hand. 3. 5-4 ft tall, modern feet (but very small) Associated fauna indicate that it may have been a forest dweller; over 35 individuals discovered.
