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Chapter 16 Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Anthropoid | Humanlike primates that include New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and hominoids |
| Opposable Thumb | Primate characteristic of having a thumb that can cross the palm and meet the other fingertips; enables animal to grasp and cling to objects |
| Prehensile Tail | Long muscular tail used as a fifth limb for grasping and wrapping around objects; characteristic of many New World monkeys |
| Primate | Group of mammals including lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans that evolved from a common ancestor; shared characteristics include a rounded head, a flattened face, fingernails, flexible shoulder joints, opposable thumbs or big toes,and a large brain |
| Australopithecine | Early African hominid, genus Australopithecus |
| Bipedal | Ability to walk on two legs; leaves arms and hands free for other activities such as hunting, protecting young, using tools |
| Cro-Magnon | Modern form of Homosapiens that spread throughout Europe between 35,000 to 40,000 years ago; were identical to modern humans in height, skull and tooth structure, and brain size |
| Hominid | A group of bipedal primates that includes modern humans and their direct ancestors |
| Hominoid | A group of primates that can walk upright on two legs; includes modern humans and their direct ancestors |
| Neandertal | Archaic Homo sapiens that lived from 35,000 |