The following photographs show two fossil hominid skulls - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 8 - 2003 - Paper 1
Question 8
The following photographs show two fossil hominid skulls.
Which of the skulls (1 or 2) is the more ancient fossil?
List one characteristic of this skull in support... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The following photographs show two fossil hominid skulls - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 8 - 2003 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which of the skulls (1 or 2) is the more ancient fossil?
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Answer
Skull 1 is the more ancient fossil. This determination is based on the characteristics typically associated with early hominids, such as a more rounded jaw line, which is indicative of an older evolutionary lineage.
Step 2
List one characteristic of this skull in support of your choice.
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Answer
One characteristic of Skull 1 is that it has a more rounded jaw line, suggesting an overall smaller skull size compared to Skull 2, which is typically seen in more ancient hominid fossils.
Step 3
What is a possible explanation for these fossils being limited to Africa alone?
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Answer
The genera may have become extinct before the migration out of Africa could have occurred, or alternatively, there could have been no selection pressures that forced these genera to migrate, leading them to remain in Africa until extinction.
