Humans vsapes
•Chimps are our closest living
relatives, sharing about 95% of
our DNA.
•So what are the differences
between us and the apes?
Chimpanzee-human
divergence
Chimpanzees Humans
6-8
million
years
Hominids or hominins
Homoninsand Homonids
•Homonin
–A living or fossil
species of the human
lineage.
•Homonid
–The group containing
humans and African
apes (Gorilla,
Chimpanzee and
Bonobo)
Class Slides Set15B
The Upper Body
brachiation
and
erectwalking
resulted in a number of
structural differences
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 121
Skeleton of a brachiator (gibbon)
1) THE CHEST IS BROAD AND NARROW IN HUMANS AND
FLATTENED FROM FRONT TO BACK (IN APES THE CHEST IS
FLATTENED AT THE SIDES
2) HUMANS HAVE LONGER COLLAR BONES
3)IN HUMANS THE SHOULDER BLADES LIE ON THE BACK
OF THE CHEST (IN QUADRUPEDS THEY’RE ON THE SIDES
OF THE CHEST
The upper body . . .
Human skeleton (Homo sapiens) –bipedal hominid.
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 429
Spine has become more
massive and rigid, with
fewer vertebrae –
stronger and able to
support an upright torso.
Humans developed
an
S-curved backbone
(rather than one
with a simple
curve/arch)
This provides
support and
balance.
Human vertebral column (lateral view).
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 243
Chest has become wider
and more barrel-like
Modern human skeleton
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 429
Shoulders have
broadened
Human skeleton (Homo sapiens) –bipedal hominid.
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 429
Relatively longer necks
have developed
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed ., p. 223
Modern human skeleton
Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 190
The arms and hands . . .
The forelimbs of apes
have become
strengthened and
elongated
(relative to the length of the body)
Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 240
Homo habilis
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed ., p. 223
Modern human skeleton
Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 113
Gorilla
Hands
become more hand -like . . .
Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 174+
Power grip –
(“prehensility”)
a grip involving all fingers of the
hand equally, as in grasping a
baseball
Precision grip –
(“opposability”)
a grip that involves
opposing the tip of the
thumb to the tips of the
other fingers
Hand anatomy.
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 435
Primate (Macaque) hand
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 121
The Primates, Time-Life (1974) p. 126
Two-year-old Baboon