Question

Consider the following Case Study:

Case Study. You discovered a hominid fossil site in South Africa in cave deposits. You believe that these fossils have never been discovered before. Using the fossil descriptions, as well as what you have learned in Module 4 and Module 5, compare and contrast the two fossils. What can you say about their locomotor pattern and possible diet?

Fossil 1: This fossil has a cranial capacity of 950cc. Its postcanine teeth are relatively small with thick enamel, while the incisors are large and wide. The face is slightly prognathic and the dental arcade is rounded. The canine lacks a honing facet. The foramen magnum is located relatively anteriorly on the skull and the phalanges are curved. The ilium is short and broad and the anterior inferior iliac spine is present and large. There is an inward angle of the femur/tibia. The hallux is in line with the other toes.

Fossil 2: This fossil has a cranial capacity 500cc. Its postcanine teeth are large with thick enamel, while the incisors are small and thin. The face is relatively prognathic and the dental arcade is somewhat rounded. A canine honing facet is present but reduced from that found in apes. The foreamen magnum is located relatively anteriorly on the skull and the phalanges are curved. The ilium is short and broad but faces slightly posteriorly. The anterior inferior iliac spine is present and the femur/tibia angle inwards. The hallux was opposable.

Answer 1

Ans. Fossil 1 can be considered as the fossil of Homo erectus. As the homo erectus possessed the cranial capacity of 950 cc. Fossil 2 can be considered as the fossil of species belonging to Australopithecus which were widely found in South Africa.