Discussion Post: Anthropology
Taxonomy
Note in this article how humans are taxonomically classified. Review the anatomy of the different primates and humans. Why are humans classified as they are? What specific characteristics put humans in their categories?
Think critically: Scientists find new fossils all the time. You will see that there are several articles in the popular science literature detailing which new human or primate species was found. How is it that we know that all humans belong to the same species? How do scientists figure out if a new fossil is part of a known species or a new species? What is the process for figuring out if a species is a new one? Use this interactive game to go through the concepts to identify a new species (requires Flash and runs better in Firefox).
The response should include a reference list. Using double-space, Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.