Title: Primate Evolution

Objective(s):Compare the features of different skulls

Hypothesis: The unknown skull will closely resemble Australopithecus afarensis

Materials:

● Skull casts: 4 known species and 1 unknown

● Calipers

Procedures:

Qualitative Observations:

1. Line up each of the skulls on the lab table, facing to the left, with the Frankfurt planes parallel to the
ground.
2. Observe each skull from the side, recording your observations about the following features (use the
table below to record your observations):
A. Forehead: Is the angle of the forehead sloping or more vertical? Is the brow ridge above the
eyes small, medium, or large? Does the forehead extend out above the eyes?

The forehead is sloping, The brow bridge is large, and the forehead did not extend above the
eyes.

B. Face: Is the shape of the face sloped or flattened and vertical?

The shape of the face is sloped.

C. Teeth: Are the teeth long or short? Sharp or dull?

Teeth are short and dull

3. Observe each skull from the bottom view and locate the foramen magnum. This is the hole that
connects the brainstem to the spinal cord. Record your observation of the location of ​each skull’s
foramen magnum​. Is it located toward the front or the rear of the skull?

Unknown skull: Rare

Pan Troglodytes: Rare

Australopithecus: Rare

Homo Erectus: Front

Homo Sapiens: Front

4. Observe each skull from the top and record your observations of the shape of the brain cavity. Is it
more round or oval? Are the edges more squared off or pointed? Make comparisons between the
skulls.
 It is oval and squared off.

Quantitative Observations: Determine Supraorbital Height

1. Use the calipers to measure the distance AC (from point A to point C on the skull).
2. Use the calipers to measure the distance BC (from point B to point C on the skull).
3. These measurements will be used to calculate the skull’s supraorbital height index according to the
formula: (BC/AC) × 100 = Supraorbital Height Index (note: The unit of measurement is SHI.)
4. Record the skull’s supraorbital height index in the data table.
5. Take the same measurements for each of the skulls, recording the supraorbital heights index in the
data table.

Data and Observations:

Create a data table to record your observations and measurements for each skull:

Skull Forehead Face Teeth Foramen Brain Supraorbital

Magnum Cavity Height (SHI)

Pan troglodytes​ (modern Sloped Face is Teeth At the rare Oval and 54.93
chimpanzee) large brow sloped. are of the skull squared
ridge long off.
forehead and
does not dull
extend
above the
eyes.

Homo sapiens Vertical Face is Teeth At the Round 67.70

small brow vertical are front of the and
(modern human) ridge short skull squared
forehead and off.
extends dull
above the
eyes

Homo erectus Sloped The Short At the Round 61.88

Medium face is and front of the and
(extinct hominid) brow ridge flattened dull skull squared
forehead off
 does not
extend
above the
eyes.

Australopithecus Sloped The Long At the rear Round 53.20

afarensis Large brow face is and of the skull and
ridge sloped sharp pointed
(extinct hominid) forehead off
does not
extend
above the
eyes

Unidentified Fossil Skull Sloped Face is Short At the rear Oval and 51.36
Large brow sloped and of the skull pointed
ridge dull off
forehead
does not
extend over
the eyes.

Conclusion: The Unknown skull is closest to Australopithecus afarensis, therefore, my hypothesis was correct.
The unknown skull may relate or had evolved from Pan troglodytes since they share some similarities such as
the sloped face, large brow ridge, and the oval shaped brain cavity.

Be sure to answer the following reflection questions in the conclusion of your lab report:

● Was your hypothesis correct? Which of the four species does the unidentified skull most resemble?
Predict how you think it may relate to the other species in terms of evolution. Justify your answer with
specific observations.
● How do the shapes of the face, forehead, and teeth differ between the various species?

Questions:

Using what you have learned from the lesson and the virtual lab activity, answer the following questions in
complete sentences:
● What do you think accounts for these differences? How might some of these differences be possible
adaptations?

The sharp teeth may be due to their diet and as a defence mechanism

● In what way do you think the location of the foramen magnum relates to the movement of each
species?

The location of the foramen magnum relates to the movement of each species since the foramen
magnum holds up the head. If the foramen magnum was to the rare then the primates head may have
been low.

● What might the shape of the skull and the supraorbital height tell us about each species?

I think the supraorbital height and the shape of the skull can tell you how old the species was while it
existed and it can tell you what species it was.