ANT 3514- Introduction to Biological AnthropologyPliocene HominidsLab 8, Week of 03/01/04REVIEW your textbook (chapters 6 and 7) and articles in your reader to prepare you for this week’s lab. READ over this entire download to familiarize yourself with this week’s stations. TERMS at the end of this download will assist you with this lab.THE FOCUS of this week’s lab is to understand morphological characteristics associated with early hominid taxa. This is best accomplished by comparison of the fossil material with skeletal material representing Homo sapiens and modern apes. Familiarize yourself with the fossil material as best you can. Learn specimen designations for key fossils, key sites, dates for key sites, genus and species recovered from key sites, etc. You will also need to know some of the important anatomical characteristics that characterize particular genera and species. Understanding specimen designations will assist you in remembering geographic distribution. (See the last page of this download for some information regarding specimen designations.)NOTE: Not all the fossil taxa of early hominids for which you will be responsible on your next exam are represented in this lab. It is strongly recommended that you review chapters 6 and 7 carefully in your textbook.Although this lab will not be due until the following week, it would be to your benefit to try to complete the following table before coming to your lab section. Don’t panic if you can’t complete the table. Not all species listed have a known cranial capacity.Pliocene HominidsHominid Date Range CranialCapacityHolotype GeographicDistributionKenyanthropus platyopsAustralopithecus afarensisAustralopithecus africanusAustralopithecus anamensisParanthropus boiseiParanthropus robustusParanthropus aethiopicusArdipithecus ramidusSahelanthropus tchadensisOrrorin tugenensisUseful websites:www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs Click on hominid fossils and type specimens under table of contentswww.modernhumanorigins.com/hominids.html!!!PLEASE HANDLE THE LABORATORY MATERIAL VERY CAREFULLY!!!STATION 1 – Kenyanthropus platyopsThis station focuses on an early hominid species known as Kenyanthropus platyops, in particular the craniodental differences between K. platyops, modern apes, an Australopithecus species and an early Homospecies (H. habilis) which will be discussed in more detail in a later lab. At this station you will find:- a cranium of Kenyanthropus platyops (KNM-WT 40000 – the holotype for K. platyops)- a skull of Pan troglodytes- a skull of Homo habilis (KNM-ER 1813)- a partial cranium of A. africanus (A73)Kenyanthropus platyops is an early hominid species recently discovered in 1999 west of Lake Turkana (Kenya). Fossil material representing K. platyops date to approximately 3.5-3.0 MYA. The holotype for K.platyops presents a unique combination of derived facial and primitive neurocranial features. These findings may indicate an early diet-driven adaptive radiation of early hominids.(in class) Describe the following cranial features of K. platyops relative to the chimpanzee and early Homo:Chimp K. platyops Early HomoPostorbital constrictionShape/Morphology of Face (degree of prognathism)Dental FeaturesSTATION 2 – Australopithecus afarensis (cranium) (pgs. 247-258 in your textbook)This station focuses on craniodental features of A. afarensis as compared to modern apes and humans. At this station you will find:- a chimpanzee cranium and mandible- a modern human mandible and cranium- a composite cast of A. afarensis- 3 partial jaws of A. afarensiso LH 4 (an adult mandible – the holotype for A. afarensis)o LH 2 (a juvenile mandible)o LH 5 (a fragment of an adult maxilla)(in class) How are each of these features similar and different between these species?A. afarensis Chimpanzee Modern HumanDentition/ Palate ShapeMorphology of face/Zygomatic BoneBrow RegionDegree of Prognathism(at home) What did A. afarensis mainly eat?STATION 3 – Australopithecus afarensis (postcranium) (pgs. 247-258 in your textbook)This station focuses on features of the foot of A. afarensis as compared to modern apes and humans. At thisstation you will find:- an articulated chimpanzee foot- an articulated human foot (at the bottom of a skeleton)- 2 impressions of the Laetoli footprintsThe Laetoli footprints were made by two hominids 3.6 MYA in Laetoli, Tanzania. These footprints have great implications for evidence of habitual bipedal locomotor patterns in early hominids. (in class) Based on information regarding the differences between ape and human feet provided in your textbook and in lecture, discuss the morphological features of the feet that likely made these footprints. Be sure to mention specific features and how these features compare to apes and humans.What do these features imply regarding the type of bipedalism practiced by A. afarensis (was it similar to the way humans practiced bipedalism)?(at home) Go to http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/laetoli.htm and answer the following question: How and why were the footprints formed and preserved?STATION 4 – BipedalismIn the previous station foot morphology was studied in relation to bipedalism, but there are other morphological indicators of bipedalism as well. At this station you will find:- an articulated pelvis of Pan troglodytes- an innominate and sacrum of A. afarensis (“Lucy”)- an articulated pelvis of H. sapiens - a femur of H. sapiens- a femur of A. afarensis (“Lucy”)- a femur of Pan troglodytes(in class) How do the pelves and femora differ between these three species?A. afarensis Chimpanzee Modern HumanPelvis Morphology- (sciatic notch, orientation of iliac blades, etc.)Femur Morphology-(femoral neck, femoral head size and shape, etc.)(at home) How do these different morphological features affect bipedalism?STATION 5 – Australopithecus africanus (pgs. 206-213, 216-222 in your textbook)This station focuses on craniodental and pelvic features of A. africanus as compared to modern apes and humans. At this station you will find:- a human cranium and mandible- a chimpanzee cranium and mandible- 2 adult cranium of A. africanus (A5 and A72)- a juvenile cranium of A. africanus (Taung – “The Taung Child”)(in class) How do each of these features differ (or are similar) between these species?A. africanus Chimpanzee Modern HumanDentitionMorphology of face/Zygomatic BoneDegree of PrognathismLocation of the