Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

Taxonom
ical
Classific
ation

Biology

1. Order
Rugosa
(Cnidaria
)

Solitary or
colonial

2. Order
Tabulata
(Cnidaria
)

Colonial

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo

Morphology

Calcareous skeleton
(corallite) with epitheca
(calcareous wall), septa
(radial plate from wall to
axis of corallite) and
typically with tabulae
(transverse partitions)
and dissepiments (small
curved plates forming a
vesicle); 6 primary septa
(protosepta; correspond
to 6 paired mesenteries);
secondary septa develop
in 4 of 6 interseptal
spaces [therefore 4-fold
(biradial) symmetry and
called Tetracoralla)
Calcareous skeleton with
epitheca (outer wall) and
tabulae (transverse
partitions); septa (radial
partitions) typically small
or absent; when present
most common number is
12

Paleontology

Some fossils include

Goniophyllum (Silurian),
Calceola (Devonian),
Phillipsastrea, Caninia,
Dibunophyllum, Palaeosmilia,
Zaphrentis, Lonsdaleia,and
Lithostrotion

Paleofavosites, and Propora

(Ordovician), Favosites,
Halysites, Heliolites,
Aulopora, Stromatopora,
Pleurodictyum, Hicetes,
Michelinia, Syringopora

Paleoecology

Geologic Age

marine sessile benthonic;

most in shallow water;
warm, well-oxygenated
water with normal salinity;
best in areas of slow
deposition (limestone beds
rather than shale or
sandstone); Solitary types
with small attachment and
often knocked over
(twisted skeletons); often
found on reefs along with
tabulate corals,
stromatoporoids,
brachiopods and
bryozoans

OrdovicianPermian

reef builders in warm,

shallow (less than 50m
water depth), clear, welloxygenated (agitated,
gently circulating) water;
bottom free of silt (if silty
would prevent larval
attachment)

OrdovicianPermian

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo

3.
Phylum
Annelida

Composed of
many ringlike,
similar
segments, and
with
segmentation of
internal
structures
including nerves,
muscles,
circulatory,
excretory and
reproductive
organs

Bilaterally
symmetrical,
triploblastic, coelomate,
and invertebrate. They
have
parapodia
for
locomotion.

Spirorbis, Serpula

4. Class
Trilobita
(Arthrop
oda)

aquatic
arthropods with
antennae; no
appendages
specialized as
mouthparts

Nektonic trilobites with

pygidia with large
surfaces; bodies lightly
constructed; large eyes;
expanded glabella (may
have contained fat);
ovate body shape

Order Agnostida

Planktonic trilobites with

very spinose forms;
expanded glabella; ovate
body shape

some polychaetes secrete

agglutinated tubes by

Cambrian to
Recent

cementing sand grains,

shell fragments or debris
with mucus, or secrete
calcareous shells that are
commonly preserved as
fossils (Exs. = Spirorbis,
Serpula); about 150
genera of polychaetes
known; Proterozoic?,
Cambrian to Recent

Marine only

Order Redlichiida

CambrianPermian

Order Corynexochida
Order Ptychopariida
Order Phacopida
Order Lichida
Order Odontopleurida
Order Proetida

5.
Supercla
ss
Crustace
a

Head composed
of several fused
cephalic
segments
(somites); 2
somites preoral
and bear 2 pairs
antennae; 1 pair

Have two pairs of

antennae and a welldefined head. Its trunk
region usually has an
abdomen and thorax
present and is often
covered by a dorsal
carapace. A number of

Canadaspis and Perspicaris

(Cambrian), Tesnusocaris
goldichi

Predators and scavenger,

filter feeds, and exhibits
parasitism

Cambrian to
Recent

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo

of antennules
present; 3
somites postoral
and bear 2
maxilla and 1
mandible; thorax
with 2
(ostracodes) to
more than 40
(some
branchiopods)
somites; some
two branched
(biramous)
appendages
present; with
nauplius larva (a
microscopic,
free-swimming
larval stage,
typically with
three pairs of
appendages)

appendages present have

specialized functions
such as feeding, walking,
and swimming. The
exoskeleton may be
strengthened by the
addition of calcium
carbonate.

6.
Subclass
Eurypteri
da

sexual
dimorphism
(male with
claspers); up to
approximately 3
meters long

Opisthosoma with 12 free

segments excluding
telson

7. Class
Arachnid
a

first two
appendages
modified for
feeding, last four

Body with cephalothorax

and abdomen (fused in
ticks and mites)

6th pair of appendages

typically oar-like;

includes scorpions, spiders,

ticks, mites

found in fresh or brackish

water but NOT generally
found with "normal
marine" invertebrates;
possibly preferred lagoonal
with high and low
salinities; nektonic;
carnivorous

Ordovician Permian (most

common
Silurian Devonian)

terrestrial, solitary,
carnivorous or parasitic

Silurian
Recent

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology
for locomotion;
air-breathing,
with respiration
by book lungs
(leaf-like plates
containing blood
vessels) or
tracheae
(ramified
tubules)

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo
cephalothorax bears 6
pairs appendages (no
antennae or mandibles)

Scorpions =
Upper
SilurianRecent

Spiders =
Middle
DevonianRecent
(approximatel
y 250 fossil
species)

Ticks and
mites =
DevonianRecent; very
sparse fossil
record
8. Class
Insecta

sexes generally
separate; many
with
metamorphosis
respiration by
tracheae

9. Class
Blastoid

sessile benthonic
(fixed to

Body with three distinct

tagma (head, thorax,
abdomen); head with 1
pair antennae; compound
eyes; 3 pairs mouth parts
(1 pair mandibles, 2 pairs
maxillae); 3 thoracic
segments with pair of
jointed legs on each;
wings often present;
abdomen usually with 11
segments or fewer (6-8)

Rhyniella praecursor
(Devonian), and Lutzomyia
(Tertiary)

essentially all
environments; primarily
terrestrial but many with
aquatic larvae

with conical, bud-shaped

or globular theca with

Timoroblastus and

filter-fed on phytoplankton
and organic detritus;

Geologic
Range:
Middle
Devonian Recent

Middle
Ordovician(?),

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology
ea

10. Class
Graptolit
hina
(Hemich
ordata)

Paleontology
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substrate by
flexible stalk;
moderate water
energy levels);
planktonic (some
nektonic) larval
stage

four circlets of plates in

well-developed
pentameral symmetry;
Five short to long
ambulacra, underlain by
lancet plates, each
bearing a long erect
brachiole; eight to ten
groups of fold like
hydrospires suspended in
coelomic cavity. Stem
usually long but with
small diameter.

Schozblastus

usually found in fine

grained (shales and
micrites) facies; salinity
probably normal marine

Middle Silurian
- Late Permian

fossil colonial
marine
organisms;
proteinaceous
skeleton

zooids commonly in
linear series or in series
of clusters, connected to
each other by stolons

Dictyonema and
Didymograptus murchisoni

fossil colonial marine

organisms

Cambrian to
Pennsylvanian
;

- formed complexly
branched colonies or
simple linear series of
interconnecting tubes

- formerly believed to
possess a notochord but
structure is actually an
elongate tubular pouch
connected to the
digestive tract; but most
with paired gill slits
11. Class
"Agnatha
" and
relations
hip with
conodont

- conodonts were
previously placed
within their own
phylum (the
Conodonta), but
are now typically
considered to

a. Cone-shaped
(Coniform) Elements

Relationships of
Conodonts

- cone-shaped structures
consisting of a base and
a cusp

- Conodont chordate
synapomorphies
- Conodont vertebrate

Some feed on other fishes

and mammals, others are
scavengers. Because it is
jawless, its teeth cannot
move up and down so it
limits their possible food
types.

Order
Paraconodonti
da: Late
Proterozoic Mid
Ordovician

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology
s

represent a
member of the
jawless fishes;
preservation of
soft-bodied
specimens
indicate that
they were
elongate, eel-like
animals

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Atty. Mariz Cerezo
synapomorphies
b. Blade-shaped
(Ramiform) Elements

Order
Conodontopho
rida:
Cambrian Upper Triassic

- structures that include a

main cusp flanked by
posteroanterior and/or
laterally directed
processes that commonly
possess denticles

c. Platform-shaped
(Pectiniform) Elements
- structures that
commonly bear denticles
on platforms of laterally
expanded processes
12.
Placoder
ms

usually
benthonic and
not very
powerful
swimmers

typically dorsoventrally
compressed fishes with
head and trunk shields
(in advanced types
shields connected by balland-socket articulation)

include the large carnivorous

Arthrodires and the
"arthropod-like" mudgrubbing Antiarchs

freshwater or marine

Devonian to
Lower
Mississippian

13.
Acantho
dians

small fusiform
fish; all fins
except caudal
with spines on
anterior edge;
heterocercal tail

small fusiform fish; all

fins except caudal with
spines on anterior edge;
heterocercal tail

Acanthodes and
Entelognathus

Two major clades:

Osteichthyes (bony fish)
and Chondrichthyes
(cartilaginous fish)

Late
Ordovician to
Lower Permian

14.
Chondric
hthyans

sharklike fishes

cartilaginous (cartilage
consists of prismatic
structure; first preserved

Cladoselache, Orthacanthus
senckenbeergianus, Falcatus,

Ocean and Freshwater

environment

Upper
Ordovician/Sil
urian to

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

15.
Sarcopte
rygian
and
Actinopt
erygians
Fishes bony fish
(Osteicht
hyes)

mostly deal with

feeding and
locomotory
systems

16.
Coelacan
ths
(Actinisti
a)

predominantly
predatory fishes
and mainly relied
on sense of smell
(with small eyes)

- act in
propulsion,
steering and
hydrostatic
adjustment

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo
prismatic cartilage is
Early Devonian age); skin
covered with dermal
denticles including
placoid scales, teeth,
claspers and fin spines
(histology of teeth is
sometimes used in
classifications)

and Orodus

Recent

- bony fish (Osteichthyes)

with fleshy lobe fins, a
squamosal bone is
present on the skull, and
a cosmine layer is
present on the scales and
bones

- Psarolepis

found in both freshwater

and marine environments
from the Devonian to
Recent

Latimeriachalumnae

both marine and

freshwater

Lower
DevonianRecent

- bony fish (Osteichthyes)

that differ from
sarcopterygians in the
presence of fin rays
(bony, rod-like fin
supports)
coelacanths and
osteolepiforms are bony
fish with two dorsal fins,
lobate paired fins, and
cosmoid structure of the
scales and dermal bones;
most important
distinguishing feature is
braincase division into an
anterior (ethmosphenoid) and posterior
(otico-occipital) parts
with an intracranial joint

Middle
Devonian to
Upper
Cretaceous

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

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between them; small
plates surround eye

- features differing from

osteolepiforms include:
braincase juncture
position different from
osteolepiforms; no
maxilla; upper jaw
attached to braincase
17.
Division
Bryophyt
a
(mosses,
liverwort
s, and
hornwort
s)

no stiffened
vascular tissue
for conducting
water and
nutrients;
gametophytes
most important
phase of sexual
reproduction

-may be a
polyphyletic
group and some
propose
establishment of
three separate
Divisions

Synapomorphic
characters include:
1. have chlorophyll a
and b
2. store true starch
3. have cellulose in cell
walls
4. protostele with xylem
forming core (xylem
forms pipelines for
conducting water and
dissolved minerals),
phloem on outside
(phloem is the foodconducting tissue; found
in roots of most vascular
plants; stems of many
psilopsids, lycopods,
sphenopsids and ferns)
5. life cycles similar
(alternation of

Poor fossil record

features useful for landdwelling existence include

presence of waterconserving cuticle on the
above-ground parts,
presence of protective
cellular jacket around the
sperm- and egg-producing
parts of the plant to keep
them from drying out, and
the sporophyte begins
early development as an
embryo inside the tissues
of the female gametophyte

Devonian Recent

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BS Geology

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Atty. Mariz Cerezo
generations, etc.)

18.
Division
Tracheop
hyta
(vascular
plants)

vascular plants
[with conducting
cells (xylem and
phloem) for
transporting
water and
nutrients];
usually possess
roots, stems and
leaves

19. Class
Gymnosp
ermopsid
a

typically formed
by fusion of egg
and sperm
nuclei; then
develop into
ripened ovules
(= seeds)
- gymnosperms
have no flowers
and seeds are
not fully
enclosed
(gymnosperm
means "naked
seed")

20.
Subdivisi
on
Angiospe
rmophyti
na
(flowerin
g plants)

- with pollenproducing
flowers (flowers
= modified
leaves); pollen
wind-carried or
insect-borne;
pollen lands on
stigma (end

Have roots, stems, and

leaves.

- probably a polyphyletic
group

- gymnosperms (and
angiosperms) are
characterized by seeds

angiosperms are very

successful because the
diploid sporophyte
dominates the life cycle
(as in other seed plants);
the sporophyte retains
and nourishes the
gametophyte and the

Rhynia, Cooksonia,
Zosterophyllum

Producer. Characterized by
chlorophyll rich leaves

includes coniferophytes,
pteridospermophytes,
cycadophytes,
cycadeoidophytes, ginkgoes,
and four plant groups of
uncertain affinities

Producers.

Paleoclusia sp., Microvictoria,

Mabelia

the sporophyte of landdwelling types has root

and shoot systems, as well
as other features to allow
it to take up and conserve
water and dissolved
minerals;

SilurianPresent

Upper
Devonian
Jurassic

flowering
plants
(CretaceousRecent);
include the
majority of
recent plants

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Atty. Mariz Cerezo

portion of female
element); pollen
tube grows to
the ovules for
the transport of
sperm; one
portion of the
sperm fertilizes
the egg and
another portion
unites with a
second portion of
the ovule (which
generally forms a
structure which
provides
nutrients for the
growing embryo)
= "double
fertilization";
seed that
develops is
totally encased
inside a fruit

embryos are nourished

by a unique tissue (the
endosperm) within the
seed; the seed are
packaged in fruits, which
also help to protect and
disperse them; evolution
of flower greatly led to
the diversity of the
angiosperms

21. Class
Magnolio
psida/
Dicotyle
donae
(dicotyle
dons)

usually leaves
are net veined
and their
embryos have
two cotyledons
("seed leaves")

- the dicots are probably

paraphyletic; most
"dicots" have tricolpate
pollen (these are termed
"eudicots" or
"tricolpates"; other dicots
and the monocotyledons
have monosulcate pollen
(it therefore appears that
the monocots were
derived from
monosulcate "dicots")

include herbs and woody

plants, cacti, and water lilies

floral parts occur in groups

of four or five; vascular
bundles are arranged in a
circle around the pith of
the stem; often with
secondary growth
(thickens the vascular
bundles and makes them
stronger)

Jurassic,
CretaceousRecent

22. Class
Liliopsid

stems are
usually

usually with floral parts in

groups of three (e.g.,

include grasses, lilies, sedges,

palms, pineapples and

usually with floral parts in

groups of three (e.g., three

Triassic,
Cretaceous-

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

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Atty. Mariz Cerezo

a/
Monocot
yledonae
(monoco
tyledons
)

herbaceous and
rarely have
secondary
growth

three stamens - the

pollen-bearing portions of
the flowers); leaves
usually parallel veined;
usually with only one
cotyledon (the "seed leaf"
of the embryo)

orchids

stamens - the pollenbearing portions of the

flowers)

23.
Amphibi
ans

- originated in
the water and
were
"preadapted" to
a life on land

tend to be round-bodied

The very earliest discovered

amphibian is Elginerpeton.

originated in the water and

were "preadapted" to a life
on land

- derived from
the
osteolepiform
fishes,
- as air breathing
became
more
efficient
the
pectoral fin was
used to lift the
head
out
of
water;
fins
became
the
tetrapod
limbs
with the loss of
the fin rays
- external
fertilization and
laid large
numbers of small
eggs in water

- bony scales reduced but

ancient
types
often
retained V-shaped ventral
armor
- vertebral column highly
ossified
- well-developed and with
zygapophyses
giving
added support to the
vertebral column

The earliest well known

amphibians come from the
Late Devonian, some 360
million years ago, and are
Acanthostega and
Ichthyostega.

terrestrial radiations. They

came much later in warm,
shallow water with low
oxygen content

Recent

Late Devonian

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

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EARLY
REPTILES

CLASSIFICATION

BIOLOGY

MORPHOLOG
Y

PALEONTOLOGY

PALEOECOLO
GY

TIME
RANGE

Dimetrodo
n

SynapsidsMammal like
reptile

They feed on
fishes and smaller
animals.

Dimetrodon
limbatus

Highly
predaceous.

Pennsylv
anianPermian

Also under
Pelycosaurs which
are derived from
porothyrid
captorhinomorphs

The sail
of Dimetrodon ma
y have been used
to stabilize its
spine or to heat
and cool its body
as a form
of thermoregulatio
n. Some recent
studies argue that
the sail would
have been
ineffective at
removing heat
from the body,
and was most
likely used
in sexual display.

Sphenacodont
s have many
members with
elongate
neural spines
forming "sails"

Tetraceratops
insignis

Predator.

Early
Permian

Tetracerato
ps

Synapsid-Mammal
like reptile
Also under

Feed on smaller
animals.

mandible with
thin,
extensive
sheet of bone
(the reflected
lamina; for

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BS Geology

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Atty. Mariz Cerezo
hearing);
temporal
fenestra
(opening)
larger than
pelycosaurs;
single canine,
jaw hinge
anteriorlyplaced and
back of skull is
vertical;
Skeleton with
improved
locomotion

therapsids which
is intermediate in
form between
sphenacodont,
pelycosaurs, and
therapsids.

- derived from
advanced
sphenacodont
s
AQUATIC
REPTILES

CLASSIFICATION

BIOLOGY

MORPHOLOG
Y

PALEONTOLOGY

PALEOECOLO
GY

TIME
RANGE

Mesosaurs

Parereptile
meaning beside
the reptiles

Most authors
consider
mesosaurs to have
been aquatic,
although at least
some of them may
have been
amphibious, rather
than completely
aquatic, as
indicated by their
moderate skeletal

slender; with
long, laterallycompressed
tail and neck
and paddlelike feet;
marginal teeth
long and
slender (for
straining
preys)

Mesosaurus
tenuidens

Limited to one
ocean basin
and was used
as an
evidence of
continental
drift.

Permian

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adaptations to an
aquatic lifestyle.
- the turtles

Testudines
(Chelonian
s)

Class Reptilia and

Order Testudines

- divide into the

Proganochelyds
(primitive Triassicage turtles),
Pleurodires (sidenecked turtles),
and Cryptodires
(S-necked turtles;
most successful
turtle group)

- probably closely
kin to pareisaurs
and
procolophonids

- shell
composed of
horny scutes
covering bony
plates; with
carapace
(dorsal portion
of shell) and
plastron
(ventral
portion of
shell)
- vertebrae
[except
cervicals
(neck)] and
ribs fused to
shell; limbs
and limb
girdles
modified for
sprawling
posture
- anapsid
skull; teeth
rudimentary
or absent

ProganochelysThe first known

turtle

oday's turtles
do inhabit a
wide variety
of
environments:
the open seas,
tropical reefs
and
coastlines,
saltwater
marshes and
estuaries,
freshwater
areas of all
sorts, and
most nonarctic
terrestrial
biomes;
including
deserts,
rainforests,
mountains,
and prairies.
Fossil turtles
are found in
roughly the
same range of
habitats. The
leatherback

Late
TriassicRecent

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Atty. Mariz Cerezo
turtle Dermoc
helys and
some other
sea turtles are
known to
range close to
the poles; no
fossil turtles
have been
found in these
regions,

Ichthyopter
ygia
(Ichthyosa
uria)

Neodiapsid
reptiles
Known as the fish
flippers

reproduction
probably took
place in water and
with live birth
(some females
with skeletons of
young
ichthyosaurs
inside them)

- body short,
laterally
compressed
and fusiform
- skull highly
modified for
aquatic life
(long beak;
nostrils
migrated far
posteriorly;
eyes greatly
enlarged and
surrounded by
bony plates);
with a
euryapsid
skull pattern
- vertebral
centra
amphicoelous
(biconcave);
tendency

Ichthyosaurus
intermedius

These animals
seem to have
been widely
distributed
around the
coast of the
northern half
of Pangea

Late
Olenakia
n-Middle
Triassic

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Atty. Mariz Cerezo
through time
to develop a
hypocercal
tail; limbs
reduced to
steering
paddles

Sauroptery
gians

lepidosauromorph
neodiapsids that
include the
nothosaurs,
pachypleurosaurs,
plesiosaurs, and
possibly the
placodonts;
aquatic reptiles
with euryapsid
temporal opening

lizard flippers.
extinct, diverse
taxon of
aquatic reptiles th
at developed from
terrestrial
ancestors soon
after theendPermian
extinction and
flourished during
the Mesozoic befor
e they
became extinct at
the end of that
era.

Nothosaurs
(limbs
relatively
normal;
Triassic) and
Plesiosaurs
(develop
paddles by
adding toe
joints;
JurassicCretaceous)
with nostils
migrated far
back on skull;
ventral ribs
form basketlike structure;
ventral
portion of
pelvic girdle
expanded

Keichosaurus sp.

Each
morphotype
filled a
specific
ecological
role. The large
pliosaurs,
such as
the Jurassic R
homaleosauru
s, Liopleurodo
n and Pliosaur
us, and
the Cretaceou
s Kronosaurus
andBrachauch
enius, were
the superpred
ators of the
Mesozoic
seas, around 7
to 12 meters
in length, and
filled a similar
ecological role
to that of killer

Olenekia
n eraTriassic

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whales today.

Placodonts

weird Triassic,
aquatic mollusceating neodiapsids

Crocodilian
s

includes the
Protosuchia and
the
Mesoeucrocodylia
[largest
assemblage of
crocodiles; include
many Mesozoic
marine types;
posterior
extension of

most with
"pavement teeth";
kin to the
"Sauroptergyia"
and now often
placed within that
group

Crurotarsi that
include the
crocodiles,
alligators and their
relatives

Placodonts
were
generally
between 1 to
2 m (3.3 to
6.6 ft) in
length, with
some of the
largest
measuring
3 m (9.8 ft)
long.

Skull
elongate,
flattened,
massive;
evolutionary
trend in
posterior
extension of
the palatal
bones
(premaxillae,
maxillae,
palatines and
pterygoids) to

Henodus sp.

the
placodonts
ate molluscs
and so their
teeth were flat
and tough to
crush their
shells. In the
earliest
periods, their
size was
probably
enough to
keep away the
top sea
predators of
the time:
the sharks.

235-200
MA;
Triassic

Eosuchia sp.

Predators.

Late
Cretaceo
usPresent

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form a
secondary
palate (for
aquatic mode
of life or to
support the
elongate
snout?);
elaborate
pneumatic
ducts (for
hearing
airborne
sounds)

palatine bones to
form secondary
palate;
Mesoeucrocodilia
includes the
Eusuchia (includes
gavials, alligators
and crocodiles;
secondary palate
fully-developed)]

BIOLOGY
FLYING
AND
GLIDING
REPTILES

CLASSIFICATION

Series Amniota
Pterosaurs

Class Sauropsida
Subclass
Diapsida
Infraclass
Archosauromorpha
Division
Archosauria
Subdivision
Avemetatarsalia

active flying
reptiles

MORPHOLOG
Y

PALEONTOLOGY

PALEOECOLO
GY

TIME
RANGE

Geosternbergia
sternbergi

most from
shallow
marine
environments;
most genera
short-lived
and from
small
geographic
areas

Upper
TriassicUpper
Cretaceo
us

1. Skull
- typically
large; bones
tend to fuse in
skull; large
brains; large
orbits;
quadrate
slanted
anteriorly and
streptostylic,
for increased
jaw mobility;
nostrils

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Order Pterosauria

Suborder
Rhamphorhynchoi
dea

Suborder
Pterodactyloidea

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo
migrated
posteriorly;
with long beak
and long,
sharp teeth

2. Postcranial
skeleton
- neck
elongate;
trunk very
short with
long sacral
region;
rhamphorynch
oids with long
tail
- Active Flight
indicated by:
hollow bones
and with birdlike pneumatic
foramina (for
respiration;
with high
metabolic
rate?); keeled
sternum;
pterodactyloid
s with welldeveloped
shoulder
girdle [scapula
(shoulder
blade)
articulated

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with fused
anterior trunk
vertebrae
(notarium)];
humerus
forms pulleylike structure
(for
attachment of
large flight
muscles);
carpal
("wrist") bone
modified to
form splintlike pteroid
BIOLOGY

EARLY
BIRDS

CLASSIFICATION

Archaeopte
ryx

Archaeopterygids

Believed to be the
link between the
dinosaurs and the
modern birds

MORPHOLOG
Y

no unique
features in the
bony skeleton
to
differentiate
them from
dinosaurs
(dinosaur
fossils from
China indicate
at least some
dinosaurs had
feathers)

Skull birdlike
with an
expanded

PALEONTOLOGY

PALEOECOLO
GY

TIME
RANGE

siemensii

The Archaeopt
eryx specimen
s found were
therefore
likely to have
lived on the
low islands
surrounding
the Solnhofen
lagoon rather
than to have
been corpses
that drifted in
from farther

Jurassic

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braincase and
large eyes;
sutures mostly
closed; but
Archaeopteryx
had thecodont
teeth

away.

- Skeleton
with vertebral
column
primitive with
amphicoelous
(biconcave)
vertebrae; tail
dinosaur-like
with two
lateral rows of
feathers; hind
legs and
pelvis similar
to saurischian
dinosaurs;
clavicles
joined to form
a bird-like
furcula
Hesperomit
hiformes

Best known
genera is
hesperornis.
Hesperomithiform
es are
characterized as
divers and toothed
birds.

Toothed Birds and

Divers.

They propel
themselves
through the
waters with huged
web feet.

Characterized
by their huge
webbed feet,
they have
teeth but lack
wings.

Hesperonis,
Parahesperonis,
and Baptornis

Birds that dive

underwater to
capture preys.

Middle
Cretaceo
us

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Gaviiforme
s

Telmatornis

There are five

living species, and
all are placed in
the
genus Gavia. The
loons were
formerly often
considered to be
the most ancient
of the northern
hemisphere bird
families
Orders
Charadriiformes
(shorebirds,
including plovers,
snipes, gulls,
terns, auks, and
sandpipers),
Anseriformes
(ducks, geese and
swans) and
Ciconiiformes
(wading birds such
as storks, herons,
bitterns, ibises,
spoonbills)
- Charadriiforms
may be ancestral
to all other large
water birds except
the Ciconiiformes;
most Late
Cretaceous fossil
birds that are not

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo
an order of aquati
c birds containing
the loons or divers
and their closest
extinct relatives

Loons are
duck-sized
birds with long
necks;
webbed feet;
and sharp,
pointed bills

These are also

known as water
birds.

cladistic
analysis of the
forelimb
skeleton
(Varricchio
2002) found it
highly similar
to the great
crested
grebe and
unlike
the painted
buttonquail(no
w known to be
a basal
charadriiform
lineage),
the blacknecked stilt (a
more
advanced
charadriiform)
, or
the limpkin (a

Lonchodytes,
Neogaeornis

Loons have
the ability to
swim or float
on stationary
waters and
use this ability
to capture
smaller preys.

Late
Cretaceo
usRecent

Telmatornis
priscus

These birds
dwell within
the ocean and
shores with
their abilities
to fly and to
somewhat
dive or glide
above the
waters to
capture fishes.

Cretaceo
usRecent

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hesperornithiforms
belong to the
ancient shorebirds
(example=
Telmatornis)

CLASSIFICATION

member of
the Grui
suborder of
Gruiformes),
namely in that
its dorsal
condyle of the
humerus was
not angled at
2030 away
from long axis
of the
humerus
BIOLOGY

EARLY
MAMMALS
Monotreme
s

These mammals
belong to
Protheria, which
lay eggs rather
than to give birth
their youngs like
Marsupials and
Placentals.

includes the
duckbill platypus
and spiny
anteaters or
echidnas

MORPHOLOG
Y

have milk
glands, hair
and one lower
jaw element
but lay eggs
and have
many reptilian
characteristics
in their
skeletons and
soft anatomy

PALEONTOLOGY

PALEOECOLO
GY

TIME
RANGE

Steropodon,
Teinolophos

Long-nosed
echidnas
(Zaglossus)
feed primarily
on
earthworms,
and possibly
scarab larvae
as well. Shortnosed
echidnas
(Tachyglossus)
feed mostly
on ants and
termites

Early
Cretaceo
usRecent

By contrast, a
platypus finds

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most of its
food
underwater,
using its
sensitive
snout to hunt.
Its prey may
include
insects and
their larvae,
bivalves,
gastropods,
freshwater
crustaceans,
and the like.
These are
stored in the
cheek
pouches and
will be
chewed after
returning to
the surface.

Triconodon
ts

"Triconodonta"
had long been
used as the name
for an order of
early mammals wh
ich were close
relatives of the
ancestors of all
present-day
mammals,
characterized by

includes the
morganucondontid
s, amphilestids
and triconodontids

basic dental
structure with
tricuspid
alignment on
the molars

Jugulator
amplissimus

Its clear that

most if not all
eutriconodont
s were
primarily
carnivorous,
given the
presence of
long, sharp

Late
TriassicLate
Cretaceo
us

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molar teeth with

three main cusps
on a crown that
were arranged in a
row.

Symmetrod
onts

divided into the

kuehneotheriids,
Amphidontids and
Spalacotheriids

canines,[note
1]
premolars
with trenchant
main cusps
that were well
suited to
grasp and
pierce prey,
strong
development
of the
madibular
abductor
musculature.
Some
eutriconodonts
like Spinolestes an
d Volaticotherium
were very well
preserved,
showing evidence
of fur, internal
organs and, in the
latter,
of patagia. Spinole
stes shows hair
similar to that of
modern mammals,
with
compound hair
follicles with
primary and
secondary hair,
even preserving
traces of a pore
infection..

-sized
mammals
known from
jaw fragments
and dentition
mandible
slender and
long; lower
molars
triangula r
with
asymmetrical
cusp
arrangement

Zhangheotherium
quinquecuspidens

Zhangheotheri
um was
specialised to
a scansorial lif
estyle. It
shows
evidence of
tarsal spurs,
indicating
that, like most
nontherianMamm
aliaformes, at
least some
symmetrodont
s
were venomo
us like the

Upper
TriassicUpper
Cretaceo
us

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modern platyp
us

Docodonts

Multituberc
ulates

Docodonts are not

as closely related
to
the placentals and
marsupials as
the monotremes,
and are not
included in
the crowngroupmammals.
The complexity of
their molars and
the fact that they
possess
the dentarysquamosal jaw
joint, means that
they are
sometimes
regarded as
belonging
to Mammalia.
Some authors limit
the term
"Mammalia" to the
crown group,
however,
excluding
mammaliaforms
like the docodonts.

were probably size

of small mouse
and with elongate
snouts

Belong to the
extinct Suborder
Plagiaulacida

most diverse and

numerous
Mesozoic
mammals

has articularquadrate
articulation
but primary
hinge is the
dentarysquamosal

Castorocauda

Docodonts are
traditionally
thought to
have been
primarily
ground
dwelling
and insectivor
ous,
but Castoroca
uda
and Haldanod
on were
specialised for
an aquatic
lifestyle and
had recurved
molars, which
suggests
possible fish
or aquatic
invertebrate
diet.

Middle
Jurassic
to Late
Cretaceo
us

Sunnyodon

These species
occupied a
diversity of

Late
JurassicEarly

- developed
advanced
"squarecusped" molar
patterns

Rodent-like;
skull low and
broad with
eyes facing

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laterally; with
pair of
enlarged
procumbent
lower incisors;
with low
many-cusped
molariform
teeth

The
multitubercula
tes had a
cranial and
dental
anatomy
superficially
similar to
rodents, with
cheek-teeth
separated
from the
chisel-like
front teeth by
a wide toothless gap
(the diasteme)
. Each cheektooth
displayed
several rows
of small cusps
(or tubercles,
hence the
name) that
operated
against similar
rows in the

ecological
niches,
ranging from
burrowdwelling to
squirrel-like
arborealism
to jerboa-like
hoppers

Oligocen
e

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teeth of the
jaw;

Trinity
Therians

"Therians of
MetatherianEutherian Grade"
wastebasket
category to
include therians
with tribosphenic
dentition but not
sufficiently known
to place with the
marsupial or
placental groups

These mammals
have the dental
classification to
that of the
marsupials but the
arrangement is
somewhat
different so they
are considered to
be different.

tribosphenic
dentition

Kermackia texana

scansorial
insectivore

Cretaceo
us

Some
ecological
niches of
marsupials
are of
carnivorous

Paleocen
e-Recent

Pappotherium
Holoclementia

includes poorly
known Cretaceous
therians such as
the "Trinity
Therians"
(Kermackia,
Pappotherium and
Holoclemensia
from the
Paluxy/Antlers
Formation of
Texas)
Marsupials

Member of the
mammalian
infraclass
Marsupiala

A distinctive
characteristic
common to
these species is
that most of the
young are carried
in a pouch. Wellknown marsupials

Marsupials
have the
typical
characteristics
of mammals
e.g., a fur

Djarthia
murgonensis

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include kangaroos,
wallabies, koalas,
possums, opossu
ms, wombats,
and Tasmanian
devils

coat. There
are, however,
striking
differences as
well as a
number
anatomical
features that
separate them
from Eutheria
ns.
In addition to
the
front pouch,
which
contains
multiple
nipples for the
protection and
sustenance of
their young,
marsupials
have other
common
structural
features
The skull has
peculiarities in
comparison to
higher
mammals. In

descriptions.

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general, the
skull is
relatively
small and
tight. Holes
(foramen
lacrimale) are
located in the
front of the
orbit. The
cheekbone is
enlarged and
extends
further to the
rear.

Placentals

It is one of the
three extant
subdivisions of the
class of
animals Mammalia
; the other two
are Monotremata
and Marsupialia.

Placental
mammals all bear
live young, which
are nourished
before birth in the
mother's uterus
through a
specialized
embryonic organ
attached to the
uterus wall,
the placenta. The
placenta is derived
from the same
membranes that
surround the
embryos in
theamniote
eggs of reptiles,
birds,

Placental
mammals are
anatomically
distinguished
from other
mammals by:

a
sufficiently
wide
opening at
the
bottom of
the pelvis
to allow
the birth
of a large
offspring

Jaw of the
Leptoreodon
leptolophus

During the
time of the
rise of
mammals,
much bigger
predators are
already
extinct so it is
said that
mammals
dominated the
predarotary
niche during
their time of
emergence.

Paleocen
e-Recent

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and monotreme.
mammals.

relative to
the size of
the
mother.

the
absence
of epipubi
c
bones ext
ending
forward
from the
pelvis,
which are
found in
all other
mammals.
(Their
function in
nonplacental
mammals
is to
stiffen the
body
during
locomotio
n, but in
placentals
they
would
inhibit the
expansion
of the
abdomen
during
pregnancy.

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)

the
rearmost
bones of
the foot fit
into a
socket
formed by
the ends
of
the tibia a
nd fibula,
forming a
complete
mortise
and
tenon upp
er ankle
joint.

the
presence
of
a malleolu
s at the
bottom of
the fibula

II. Differentiate

SAURISCHIANS VS ORNITHISCHIANS

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1. Saurischians with primitive pelvis structure with ilium at top, pubis pointing forward and ischium backward; front limb
shorter than hind; digits of manus (hand) and pes (foot) reduced; teeth occupied the rims of the jaws; large openings reduced
the weight of the skull. The saurischians dominated during the early Mesozoic but were outnumbered by the
ornithischians during the upper Mesozoic.
VS
2. Ornithischians have a pubis points backward (bird-hipped); with single median bone at the tip of the lower jaw (the
predentary); jaw with beak, posterior to which is a grinding dention; most with concave cheek region (therefore most with
muscular cheeks); tendency for internal nostrils to be displaced posteriorly.

MARSUPIAL VS. PLACENTAL

MARSUPIALS

PLACENTALS

1.Postorbital bar usually lacking

1.postorbital bar present

2.Braincase relatively small

2.braincase relatively large

3.Posterior palatal vacuities usually present

3.posterior palatal vacuities rare

4.a poorly developed auditory bulla

4.auditory bulla commonly well developed and of

various origins derived from alisphenoid

5.Angle of jaw usually inflected medially

5.lower jaw usually not inflected

6.Dental formula derived from

6.Dental formula derived from I3/3 C1/1 P4/4 M3/3

I5/4 C1/1 P3/3 M4/4

(6 premolars in primitive species)

7.essentially monophyodont teeth; only

7.diphyodont teeth; replacement of most antemolar

third premolar is replaced

Teeth

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8.relatively broad stylar shelf on upper

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo

8.relatively narrow stylar shelf in most forms

molars in most polyprotodont forms

9. hypoconulid and entoconid are twinned

9. no twinning

and separated from the hypoconid

10.Epipubic bone; both sexes of most forms

10.no epipubic bones

11.None possess baculum or os clitoridis

11.baculum or os clitoridis common

12.presumed to have retained the original

12.with derived, placental mode of reproduction

therian reproductive mode

13.with altricial young

13.precocious young common

14.retain somewhat lower metabolic rate

14.typically develop an elevated basic metabolic rate

III. Were dinosaurs warm blooded?

There are evidences citing that dinosaurs are warm-blooded. They are the following:
a. Erect posture - limbs held vertically (with metabolism like birds and mammals)
b. Bone structure - dinosaurs have haversian canal systems in their bones like those of mammals (indicates more rapid
metabolic processes; but these seem to be present in large animals in general and are absent in small animals) but
dinosaurs did not have determinant growth and continued to increase in size throughout life (unlike birds and mammals)
c. Population Studies/ Community Structure - carnivorous dinosaur numbers (versus herbivores) are more like that of

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mammals than reptiles

d. Long-necked dinosaurs would have to have a more efficient heart in order to pump blood up to their brains
e. A few dinosaurs were at least as intelligent as birds
f. Dinosaurs show social behavior (such as herding and "nurseries") that is unknown among other reptiles
g. Dinosaurs have been discovered in Mesozoic "polar regions"
h. Some dinosaur fossils have feathers
i. Growth Rates - reptiles grow slowly, dinosaurs grew quickly like birds and mammals
j. Oxygen Isotopes - ratios are influenced by temperature; indicates more similarity to modern endotherms than
ectotherms
Dinosaurs would probably maintain a relatively constant internal temperature due to their small surface area versus volume
(Homeotherms or Gigantotherms).

IV. Causes of extinction of dinosaurs

1. Catastrophic Dinosaur Extinction
a. Extraterrestrial Causes - large asteroid (10 to 20 kilometers across) hit the earth, creating a cloud of dust and
something similar to "nuclear winter"; decrease in photosynthesis, increase in carbon dioxide, increase in acidity of oceans
and a short-term "greenhouse effect"? Th evidence includes the iridium layer at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary found at
about 50 localities throughout the World (probably deposited over a period no more than a few thousand years), the
presence of glassy spherules (tektites) and "tsunami beds" at the K/T boundary
b. Vulcanology models - geochemical data in boundary rocks indicate major volcanic eruptions (e.g., The Deccan Traps of
India) at the end of the Cretaceous. That would produce greenhouse gases that would trigger rapid climate change
2. Hypothesis of Gradual Change
- end of Cretaceous marked by major regression and drying up of epicontinental seas
- tectonic activity, mountain building led to major change in climate and seasonality

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- Western North America may have seen gradual decrease in temperature between late Cretaceous and Paleocene of 10C ;
evidence includes gradual extinction and replacement of dinosaurs and other groups (including plesiosaurs, pterosaurs,
ostracods, bryozoans, ammonites and bivalves, all with low diversity at the end of the Cretaceous)

V. Theories on the origin of flight

1. Arboreal theory -has been proposed by most workers; four-footed, ground-dwelling reptile became bipedal, then
climbing, then began leaping from tree to tree. Later it began parachuting, gliding and finally included active, powered flight
2. Cursorial theory - feathers developed as thermoregulatory devices for insulation; then used for trapping insects; then
provided lift during running and leaping; then flight

VI. Discuss briefly the Oldowan Culture and Mousterian Tradition.

The Oldowan Culture is the first tool culture; although the Oldowan Culture has considered to be a "pebble tool"
culture, their primary use appears to have been as choppers, scrapers and pounders; the Oldowan Culture was probably due to
Australopithecus gahri, Homo rudolfensis, H.habilis and early H. ergaster
- dates at 2.5 - 1.5 Ma; early humans used these tools for "expanding their niche" - cutting, crushing, digging, projectiles and
carrying; it appears that the hominids had no preconceived shape of the tool during manufacture (i.e., no "mental template")
- early Homo species may have lived in multi-male and multi-female groups; males competed for access to females
- no evidence of intentional burials, grave goods, art, etc.; no clear evidence of architectural features
Mousterian Tradition is usually attributed to Homo neanderthalensis
- strike flake from underside of a prepared "tortoise-shell" core to create many tool types; many of these were Composite Tools
(artifacts made from more than one component)

VII. First appearance of rodents, elephants, dugongs , whales, horses (one toed), camels (even toed)

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True rodents (order rodentia) first appear in the fossil record towards the end of the Paleocene epoch.- probably evolved
from anagalids (as did the lagomorphs).
Order Proboscidea that include the elephants appeared Eocene Recent.
Order Sirenia that includes manatees and dugongs. They are totally aquatic, huge (up to 8 meters long) shapeless animals
with a large tail (the "swim fin"), small front flipper, blunt mouth with thick overhanging lips; skeletal adaptations for aquatic life
include pelvic girdle reduced to a vestige and thick, dense ribs; Eocene - Recent
Order Cetacea that includes the whale have three suborders - the Archeoceti (earliest whales; derived from mesonychids or
artiodactyls; Eocene - Oligocene, Miocene(?); includes the long-snouted, toothed "zeuglodonts"); Odontoceti (toothed whales
including dolphins, porpoises, sperm and killer whales); Mysticeti (include plankton-straining baleen whales; largest animals
that ever lived)
Order Perissodactyla are the "odd toed" ungulates including tapirs, rhinoceroses, horses, brontotheres and chalicotheres.
They are derived from phenacodontid condylarths. They first appear in the Eocene (also peaked in the Eocene); good fossil
record in North America and Eurasia and later members found in Africa and South America. The axis of weight-bearing passes
through the middle or third digit (mesaxonic); most members are three toed but later horses eliminated the lateral digits to
become one toed.
Order Artiodactyla are the"even toed" ungulates; includes pigs, camels, giraffes, deer, antelope, goats, sheep, cattle and
other extinct and modern groups; with 79 living genera; 27 families from Cenozoic (10 survive); derived from the arctocyonid
condylarths with origin in the Paleocene; first radiation in early Eocene gave rise to many pig-like stocks (forest and woodland
rooters and browsers); second radiation in late Eocene and early Oligocene gave rise to early ruminants; in Miocene ruminants
diversified to exploit the savannahs and grasslands and remain the dominant herbivores there today.
VIII. Earliest Human fossil and Origin Theories for Homo sapiens
Origin Theories for Homo sapiens include:
Multi-Regional Hypothesis - evolution from several "stocks" of migrated Homo ergaster / "erectus" (especially Africa and
eastern Asia)
Out-of-Africa Hypothesis - evolution from a single stock of H. ergaster / "erectus" that later migrated (most popular theory)
and replaced older groups

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo

Ardipithecus species were the earliest known australopithecines, including Ardipithecus kadabba (ca. 5.7 Ma?) and
Ardipithecus ramidus (ca. 4.5-4.3 Ma) from Ethiopia, Africa; consist of gracile (lightly-built) australopithecines with chimp-sized
brains that inhabited woodlands. Ardipithecus was bipedal (as indicated by the pelvis and leg structure) but the big toe on the
foot was divergent (the foot could be used for grasping), suggesting Ardipithecus may have nested and fed in trees
Australopithecus species (ca. 4-2 Ma) were gracile (lightly-built) hominids; fully bipedal (determined by hips, thigh bones
and fossil footprints at Laetoli); very apelike in most of skeleton with long arms and fingers; the brain is chimp-size (400-500
milliliters); moderate to marked sexual dimorphism (males larger than females); height from 1.0 to 1.5 meters (3' 3" to 4' 11")
and weight from 30 to 70 kilograms (66 to 154 pounds); a "gracile" australopithecine probably lead to Homo
Paranthropus species (2.6-1.2 Ma) were robust (heavily-built) australopithecines; relatively long arms; height 1.1 to 1.4
meters (3' 7" to 4' 7") and weight 40 to 80 kilograms (88 to 176 pounds); marked sexual dimorphism; prominent crests on top
and back of skull; very long, broad, flattish face; strong facial buttressing; very thick jaws; small incisors and canines; large,
molar-like premolars; very large molars; brain size 410 to 530 milliliters
Early Homo Species:
Homo rudolfensis (ca. 2.5 - 1.9 Ma) and Homo habilis (ca. 2.1 - 1.5 Ma) were similar to Australopithecus but brain size
increased to about 650-750 ml
Homo ergaster
- approximately 1.9 to 1.5 Ma in eastern Africa
- may be ancestral to all subsequent Homo species
- the slender-bodied, long-legged "Turkana Boy" skeleton is essentially modern and with a highly efficient striding structure;
adults probably 1.8 meters tall (6') or more; brain size 800- 1050 ml
- oldest H. ergaster made Oldowan tools; at approximately 1.65 Ma developed Acheulian industry (with large hand-held stone
axes); may have been first to use fire at 1.7 Ma (fire provides warmth, used in hunting, protection against predators, remove
toxins from food)
Homo erectus
- Asiatic form [ca. 1.5 Ma to 225 Ka] with a relatively large brain (850 -1150 ml), flat skull, large brow ridges, sloped forehead,
nuchal crest on back of skull, almost no chin; probably did not give rise to later Homo species
Origin of Homo sapiens
- probably evolved from H. ergaster-like species
- by 500 - 200 Ka with forms intermediate between H. ergaster/"erectus" and H. sapiens

Santos, Marie Charie D.

BS Geology

Paleontology
Atty. Mariz Cerezo

Homo floresiensis, a tiny (adults 42 inches high!) island species from Indonesia, is similar to Homo ergaster ; it may
have lived as late as 18,000 years ago (if true, this greatly changes our ideas of the diversity and distribution of ancient
hominids)
Homo neanderthalensis
- early pre-Neandertals at 400 Ka; Homo neanderthalensis at 150 Ka to 27 Ka; mostly lived in Europe and western Asia
- often massive brow ridges; large cheek bones; protruding face; no chin; "bun"-shaped skull; large cranial capacity (often
greater than modern man); short (1.5 meters; 5 ft.) but very powerful
- probably not ancestral to Homo sapiens (with distinct DNA)
- hand axes decline, flake tradition becomes dominant
Homo sapiens sapiens
- Homo sapiens sapiens evolved from archaic H. sapiens in Africa and then replaced neanderthals in Eurasia?
- there may have been an early dispersal of anatomically modern-looking Homo sapiens from Africa at about 100 Ka; there may
have been a substantial bottleneck of population after that, with numbers dropping to as low as 10,000 individuals
- Homo sapiens sapiens developed the Upper Paleolithic tool technology (35 to 9 Ka); often typified by "punch-struck" blade
industries (a blade is a long flake); these were "specialized" hunter-gatherers (concentrate on a few resources) that often hunted
herd animals greatly changes our ideas of the diversity and distribution of ancient hominids)
References:

faculty.tarleton.edu/murry/Paleontology/Paleontology%20Lecture
%20Notes.doc