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Exam 2 Vocabulary - Part 2
KSU Intro to Physical Anthropology
42
Anthropology
Undergraduate 2
03/13/2012

Additional Anthropology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Epoch
Definition
A subdivision of geologic period
Term
Continental drift
Definition
The movement of continental alnd masses on top of a partially molten layer of the earth's mantel that has altered the relative location of the continents over time
Term
Paleocene epoch
Definition
The first epoch of the Cenozoic era, dating between 65.5 to 55.8 MYA; primate-like mammals appeared during the Paleocene
Term
Postorbital bar
Definition
The bony ring that separates the eye orbit from the back of the skull in primates
Term
Carpolestes simpsoni
Definition
A species of primate-like mammal that had some derived primate traits, such as a grasping foot and an opposable big toe. This species is intermediate in many respects between primitive primate-like mammals and true primates
Term
Eocene epoch
Definition
The second epoch of the Cenozoic era, dating betwen 55.8 to 33.9 MYA. The first true primates, primitive prosimians, appeared during the Eocene
Term
Oligocene epoch
Definition
The third epoch of the Cenozoic era, dating between 33.9 to 23.0 MYA. Anthropoids underwent an adaptive radiation during the Oligocene.
Term
Miocene epoch
Definition
The fourth epoch of the Cenozoic era, dating between 23.0 to 5.3 MYA. Several adaptive radiations of hominoids occurred during the Miocene, and the oldest known possible hominins appeared during the Late Miocene
Term
Eurasia
Definition
The combined land masses of Europe and Asia
Term
Postcranial
Definition
Referring to the part of the skeleton below the skull
Term
Proconsul
Definition
A genus of fossil hominoid that lived in Africa between 21 and 14 MYA that shows a number of monkey characteristics
Term
Diastema
Definition
A gap next to the canine tooth that allows space fo the canine on the opposing jaw
Term
Sivapithecus
Definition
A genus of fossil ape that lived in Asia between 14 and 7 MYA, possibly an ancestor to modern orangutan
Term
Pierolapithecus
Definition
A genus of fossil ape that lived in Spain in the Middle Miocene that might be an ancestor of all great apes and humans, or an ancestor of just African apes and humans
Term
Dryopithecus
Definition
A genus of fossil ape that lived in Hungary and Spain during the Middle and Late Miocene that might be an ancestor of African apes and humans
Term
Ouranopithecus
Definition
A genus of fossil ape that lived in Greece during the Late Miocene that might be an ancestory of African apes and humans
Term
Molecular dating
Definition
The application of methods of genetic analysis to estimate the sequence and timing of divergent evolutionary lines
Term
Home range
Definition
The size of the geographic area that is normally occupied and used by a social group
Term
Behavioral ecology
Definition
The study of behavior that focuses on the adaptive value of behavior from an ecological and evolutionary perspective
Term
Strategy
Definition
A behavior that has been favored by natural selection and that increases an individual's fitness
Term
Life history theory
Definition
The study of how characteristics of an organisms life cycle affects reproduction, focusing on trade-offs between energy expended for numbers and fitness of offspring
Term
Parental investment
Definition
Parental behaviors that increase the probability that offspring will survive
Term
Monogamy
Definition
An exclusive sexual bond between an adult male and an adult female for a long period of time
Term
Polygamy
Definition
A sexual bond between an adult male and an adult female in which either individual may have more than one mate at the same time
Term
Alloparent
Definition
An individual that cares for an infant but is not a biological parent
Term
Infanticide
Definition
The killing of an infant
Term
One-male/one-female group
Definition
A social structure in which the primary social group consists of a single adult male, a single adult female, and their immature offspring
Term
One-male/multifemale group
Definition
A social structure in which the primary social group consists of a single adult male, several adult feamles, and their immature offspring
Term
One-female/mutlimale group
Definition
A social structure in which the primary social group consists of a single adult female, several adult males, and their immature offspring
Term
Multimale/multifemale group
Definition
The most common type of social group, in non-human primates, consisting of several adult males, several adult females, and their immature offspring
Term
Affiliative
Definition
Friendly behaviors that promote social bonds
Term
Agnostic
Definition
Unfiendly social relationships
Term
Grooming
Definition
The handling and cleaning of another individual's fur. In primates, grooming serves as a form of communication and provides reassurance.
Term
Kin selection
Definition
The concept that altruistic behavior can be selected for if it increases the probability of survival of close relatives
Term
Reciprocal altruism
Definition
The concept that altruistic behaviors will be directed toward nonkin if they increase the probability that the recipient will reciprocate at some future time
Term
Dominance hierarchy
Definition
The ranking system within a society that indicates which individuals are dominant in social behaviors
Term
Sexual dimorphism
Definition
The average difference in body size between adult males and adult females
Term
Territory
Definition
A home range that is actively defended
Term
Savanna
Definition
An environment consisting of open grasslands in which food resources tend to be spread out over large areas
Term
Brachiation
Definition
A method of movement that uses the arms to swing from branch to brach
Term
Knuckle walking
Definition
A form of movement used by gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos that is characterized by all four limbs touching the ground, with the weight of the arms resting on the knuckles of the hands
Term
Fission-fusion
Definition
A primate society in which the population splits into smaller subgroups at tmies (fission) and then later reunites (fusion). The process is affected by teh distribution of food resources.
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