Hominid Evolution 1: The Early Stages

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Hominid Evolution 1: The Early Stages

This video begins with a survey of anatomically important concepts and landmarks in the analysis of primate skulls and teeth so that the ... all » fossils can be discussed accurately. The discussion of fossils begins with Aegyptopithecus from the Oligocene and continues through the Miocene and Pliocene using casts for a sample of the fossil forms and some slides for the newer Ardipithecus and Australopithecus anamensis. The video then discusses the anatomy of the femur and pelvis in terms of the development of bipedalism, using cast material from the Australopithecus afarensis called Lucy. Some time is devoted to a discussion of afarensis dentition and the development of modern dental characteristics. The differences between the gracile and robust forms of Australopithecines are then demonstrated. The presentation ends with a brief introduction of the habilis form as the next stage of development of modern Humans. All this material is shot in the setting of a university physical anthropology lab.