Question
what does the fossil record tell us about the evolution of the hominin skull
the part of the skull surrounding the brain grew larger as hominins evolved
the face stuck out farther from the rest of the skull as hominins evolved
the part of the skull surrounding the brain grew more pointed as hominins evolved
the face grew wider as hominins evolved
the part of the skull surrounding the brain grew larger as hominins evolved
the face stuck out farther from the rest of the skull as hominins evolved
the part of the skull surrounding the brain grew more pointed as hominins evolved
the face grew wider as hominins evolved
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The fossil record indicates several key trends in the evolution of the hominin skull:
1. **Increase in Brain Size:** The part of the skull surrounding the brain, known as the cranium, shows a significant increase in size over evolutionary time. Early hominins had smaller cranial capacities, while later species, particularly those within the genus *Homo*, display much larger cranial volumes, reflecting an expansion of brain size.
2. **Reduction of Prognathism:** The face of hominins has generally become less protruding (or prognathous) over time. Early hominins exhibited a more pronounced facial projection, but as evolution progressed, particularly with the emergence of modern humans (*Homo sapiens*), the face became flatter and more vertical.
3. **Changes in Skull Shape:** The skull did not grow more pointed; rather, it became more rounded and could be described as brachycephalic (short and broad) in some hominins, especially in modern humans. This change corresponds with the increase in cranial capacity.
4. **Widening of the Face:** There is evidence that the facial structure became wider in some aspects, particularly around the cheekbones and dental arch, but this varies among different hominin species.
Overall, the most widely supported trends in the fossil record suggest that, as hominins evolved, the cranial capacity increased, the facial prognathism decreased, and the shape of the skull became less elongated and more rounded.
1. **Increase in Brain Size:** The part of the skull surrounding the brain, known as the cranium, shows a significant increase in size over evolutionary time. Early hominins had smaller cranial capacities, while later species, particularly those within the genus *Homo*, display much larger cranial volumes, reflecting an expansion of brain size.
2. **Reduction of Prognathism:** The face of hominins has generally become less protruding (or prognathous) over time. Early hominins exhibited a more pronounced facial projection, but as evolution progressed, particularly with the emergence of modern humans (*Homo sapiens*), the face became flatter and more vertical.
3. **Changes in Skull Shape:** The skull did not grow more pointed; rather, it became more rounded and could be described as brachycephalic (short and broad) in some hominins, especially in modern humans. This change corresponds with the increase in cranial capacity.
4. **Widening of the Face:** There is evidence that the facial structure became wider in some aspects, particularly around the cheekbones and dental arch, but this varies among different hominin species.
Overall, the most widely supported trends in the fossil record suggest that, as hominins evolved, the cranial capacity increased, the facial prognathism decreased, and the shape of the skull became less elongated and more rounded.