Station 1. Non-Primate Mammals

ANTH 148: Human Origins
Recitation 3: Primate and Human Morphology

• Compare the human skull below to the mammal skulls (beaver, coyote, mink, muskrat, and racoon). What differences can you observe in the sensory apparatuses (e.g., eyes, snout, etc.)? What do these differences suggest about sensory reliance among the different species?

• Examine the dentition of the mammals. Which species have specialized dentition? What are the functions and adaptive benefits of dental specialization?

• Look at the differences in the position of the foramen magnum (i.e., the large opening at the base of the skull) of the human and mammal skulls. How does this positioning relate to locomotion?