You discover a primate fossil while on an expedition in Africa. Which part of the skeleton would you be most interested in examining in order to classify this primate as a human or a nonhuman primate?
A) the hand bones
B) the base of the skull
C) the ribs
D) the backbone (vertebrae)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The base of the skull can provide clues about the position of the foramen magnum (the hole where the spinal cord exits the skull). In humans, the foramen magnum is positioned underneath the skull, indicating a bipedal (upright) posture. In nonhuman primates, the foramen magnum is positioned towards the back of the skull, indicating a quadrupedal (four-legged) posture.

You Discover a Primate Fossil While on an Expedition in Africa