Wednesday, January 23, 2013

biology


Ardi
4.4 million years old
earliest human known
4 feet tall
enviroment was woodland
flat-footed but walked on two legs
tree-dweller
had opposible big toes and thumbs but was better on ground
scientist thought to believe they lived in groups that helped each other and shared
canine teeth were present
female
weighed 110 pounds
feet more stable then that of a chimps
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-10/uoc--adl100109.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardi




Riddle of the bones
How did They move?
First Family Broad heels- could withstand the pressure used in upright walking.
First Family Toe Bones- curve away from the heel , which is not like those a normal tree climbing primate.
Lucy's pelvis-hints she walked on 2 legs. looks similar to that of a modern day female.
Lucy's Forearm- Longer more power full. made so she could climb and spend most time in trees.
Laetoli Footprints- made by two feet but in a forward motion not as a chimp which is sideways.

What did they look like?
First family- vary in sizes from male to female to young
      -jaw shows a mix of human and chimp-like traits
Hadar Skull- heavy brow structure with a small skull cavity and canine teeth. a more ape like looking skull.
      - teeth with heavy wear from ripping vegetation off of branches
Lucy-wide pelvic opening which meant she was female
- roughly three and a half feet tall and built powerfully
-jaws shows she had wisdom teeth but no wear on her teeth so she was a middle-aged adult
Laetoli footprints-arched with a disconnected big toe

Are they all the same species?
First Family- similar structure to all and size varied
Hadar skull- fragments in jaw and teeth both similar to Lucy and First Family
Lucy- a more V shaped jaw from the hadar skull and a foot shorter then the family
Laetoli Footprints- must of had knee joints and hip joints like much of the first family and Lucy

When did they live?
First family- 3.2 Million years
Hadar Skull- 3 million years
Lucy- 3.2 Million years
Laetoli footprints- 3.6 million years

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