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prehistoric life
dinosaur class!
54
Geology
Undergraduate 1
12/06/2010

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Term
carboniferons
Definition
coal swamp plants; extinct in Permian (lycopsids, sphenopsids)
Term
gymnosperms
Definition
dominant in Mesozoic; 60% dom in Triassic, 80% dom in Jurassic; success due to seed (fertilized egg-embryo, in watertight container with food
Term
Angiosperms
Definition
(flowering plants) late Jurassic/early Triassic, dom in Cenozoic because take over in Cretoceous with dif mechanizms of seed dispersal and fertilization; develope faster (weedy) survive grazing from herbivores
Term
gymnosperms fertilization
Definition
by wind
Term
angiosperms fertilization
Definition
by animal vectors (cycads too)
Term
Cynodont
Definition
ancestral to mammals, differentiated teeth, posterior bones in jaw smaller, limbs more upright, seasonal climates, some thermoregulation
Term
Triassic Cynodonts
Definition
evolved to smaller sized, nocturnal burrowers, favor endothermy, acute senses, larger brain, fur/hair, insulation, live birth
Term
Morganucodonts
Definition
triassic cynodonts; small 4" carnivores, dif teeth, single jaw bone, nocturnal burrowers
Term
Castrocauda
Definition
triassic cynodonts; swim and burrow; resemble river rats or platypus
Term
Volaticotheriums
Definition
gliding triassic cynodonts
Term
Monotems
Definition
triassic cynodonts; most primitive living mammals; branched off earlier than many extinct cynodonts; today-platypus and echidna; sprawling, lay eggs, thermoregulate
Term
Yonocondon
Definition
intermediate stage in separation in ear and jaw bone
Term
Marsupials
Definition
therian mammal; more flexible reproduction-abandon young in crisis
Term
Placentals
Definition
therian mammal; carry fetus to term
Term
mass extinction
Definition
wide geographic area, wide species variety, short time period, too fast for adaption
Term
"Cretaceous-Tertiary" mass extinction
Definition
75% species; dinosours, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, ammonoids, high % other moluscs and forumns, diversification of mammals
Term
guilds
Definition
dif ways of making a living (members of same guild compete for dif resourses) dinosaurs, marine reptiles, pterosaurs (filled by mammals after extinction)
Term
Palocene Epoch
Definition
first general then specialized evolved
Term
Condylarths
Definition
generalized ungulates w/o hooves (today have hooves) herbivores
Term
Eocene Epoch
Definition
many modern groups present
Term
water in Eocene Epoch
Definition
evolved from ungulates- early whales; ex. Ambulocetus; evidence- wales w/ limbs, whales gave birth on land; dolphins w/ 4 limbs
Term
air in Eocene Epoch
Definition
bats replace pterosaurs
Term
land herbivores in Eocene Epoch
Definition
rodents/rabbits ex. proboscideans; ungulates- horses were small terrestrial herbivores ex. Hyracotherium; untatheres and titocotheres- learge terrestrial grazers
Term
land carnivores in Eocene Epoch
Definition
creodonts (archaic carnivores) birds, reptiles
Term
modernization after Eocene
Definition
climate cools and dries, ice at poles, ocean circulation changes due to continental drift/tectonic activity; forests less dense, more grasslands, changes cause death by natural selection --> ungulate diversification
Term
Artiodactyls
Definition
post eocene epoch; "even toed ungulates" ex. deer, pig, hippo, camel; most common group today
Term
Perissodactyls
Definition
"odd toed ungulates" ex. rhinos
Term
Indriocotherium
Definition
largest land mammal ever
Term
horses
Definition
trend: body size went up (anti-preditory), less toes(speed for running), tooth height went up(eating abrasive grass) because of spread of grasslands
Term
Primates
Definition
forward facing eyes, shorter snout, grasping hands and feet, less specialized teeth and skeleton, larger brain, slower development, more parental care
Term
ancestors of primates
Definition
small arboreal mammals, late cretaceous
Term
Paleocene Plesiadapids
Definition
first primate, rodent-like
Term
Prosimians
Definition
adapsids- Paleocene, today-lemurs ect.
Term
Anthropoids
Definition
early tiny ones in Libya 39 Ma; Aegyptopithecus- skull discovery- lime sized brain, excellent vision, sexual dimorphism (large social group)
Term
Diversification of Apes
Definition
especially 10-20 Ma; ex. Proconsul 80 lbs - ate leaves and fruit; arboreal; sumpithecids- ancestral to orangoutangs, includes Gigantopithecuz- gave right to legend of bigfoot
Term
Gigantopithecus
Definition
gave rise to legend of bigfoot
Term
Humans (compared to modern apes)
Definition
hair distribution, flatter face, smaller teeth, larger brain, bipedal w/ upright posture, non-opposible big tow, jaw shape
Term
the split (to human)
Definition
time- 6-7 Ma, 99% same DNA, ex. Sahelapthropus- both human and chimp traits; Orronin- 6 Ma-fully bipedal
Term
Ardipithecus ramidus
Definition
4' 110 lbs, 4 limbs on branches, upright on ground, no grasp, woodland environment; promiscuous?
Term
Australopithicus
Definition
intermediate hip structure and jaw, larger brainthan ape, walked upright, some time in trees
Term
Australopithicus afarensis
Definition
lucy and 3 yr old human, lower body walked upright, apelike upper body and neck, gorilla shoulder blades, chimp like piowade bone
Term
Homo Habilis
Definition
found with tools (not first)
Term
Homo Erectus
Definition
"turkana boy" could be 6' tall, foot structure same as h. sapiens, long distance walk, run, advanced, tools, evidence of fire
Term
Homo Florensiensis
Definition
"the hobbit" 18 Ka, probably ancestor of h erectus, <1 M tall, long flat feet, high stepping gate
Term
Homo Heidelbergenis
Definition
likely ancestor of H. sapians
Term
Homo Neandertanlensis
Definition
(Neanderthals) bigger bodies and brains than h. sapiens, same DNA, variant of MCIR gene-red hair, religious, altruistic
Term
Pleistocene Ice Age
Definition
advance and retreat of glaciers at least 17 times; 24% land surface covered w/ glacier
Term
Effects of Pleistocene Ice Age
Definition
erosion, disposition, climate, drainage change
Term
Causes of Pleistocene Ice Age
Definition
land masses near poles; astronomical factors- eccentricity, tilt of axis, procession; change in ocean circulation b/c uplift of Isthmus of Panama 7-8 Ma
Term
North America during Ice Age
Definition
mammoths and mastodons, giant brown sloth, sabertooth tiger, giant bison, dire wolf
Term
Causes of Pleistocene Ice Age
Definition
land masses near poles; astronomical factors- eccentricity, tilt of axis, procession; change in ocean circulation b/c uplift of Isthmus of Panama 7-8 Ma
Term
Europe during Ice Age
Definition
mammoths and mastodons, giant brown sloth, sabertooth tiger, giant bison, dire wolf, irish Elk, woolly rhino, cave bears
Term
Pleistocene Extinction
Definition
11 Ka, 3000 year period; mostly large-bodied mammals in N. America and Europe (35 genera)
Term
Causes of Pleistocene Extinction
Definition
climate change-->likely not entire reason (glaciers advanced and retreated many times w.o extinction) human overkill-->humans entered N. America about time of extinction...maybe. large mammal bones found w human bones/tools/weapons with cut marks in them; impact?
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