Question 4: Try to trace the various components of human evolution (hint: brain size and function, skeletal structure, dietary preference, etc.)
Answer:
The various components of human evolution are as follows.
(i) Brain capacity
(ii) Posture
iii. Food / dietary preference and other important features
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Name
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Brain capacity
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Posture
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Food
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Features
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1.
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Dryopithecus africans
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---
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Knuckle walker,
walked similar to gorillas and chimpanzees (was more ape-like)
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Soft fruit and leaves
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Canines large, arms and legs are of equal size
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2.
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Ramapithecus
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---
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Semi-erect (more man-like)
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Seeds, nuts
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Canines were small while molars were large.
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3.
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Australopithecus africanus
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450 cm3
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Full erect posture, height (1.05 m)
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Herbivorous (ate fruits)
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Hunted with stone weapons, lived at trees, canines and incisors were small
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4.
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Homo habilis
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735cm3
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Fully erect posture, height (1.5 m)
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Carnivorous
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Canines were small. They were first tool makers.
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5.
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Homo erectus
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800-1100 cm3
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Fully erect posture, height(1.5-1.8 m )
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Omnivorous
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They used stone and bone tools for hunting games.
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6.
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Homo neanderthalnsis
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1300-1600 cm3
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Fully erect posture, height (1.5-1.66 m)
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Omnivorous
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Cave dwellers, used hides to protect their bodies, and buried their dead
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7.
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Homo sapiens fossilis
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1650 cm3
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Fully erect posture with height (1.8 m)
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Omnivorous
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They had strong jaw with teeth close together. They were cave dwellers, made paintings and carvings in the caves. They developed a culture and were called first modern men.
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8.
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Homo sapiens sapiens
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1200-1600 cm3
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Fully erect posture, height (1.5-1.8 m )
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Omnivorous
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They are the living modern men, with high intelligence. They developed art, culture, language, speech, etc. They cultivated crops and domesticated animals.
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