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Evidence Supporting Evolution

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xplain how each of the following provide evidence supporting evolution. Provide at least one specific example of each.
a. Transitional fossils: Transitional fossils are the missing links between animals we see today and their ancestors. During evolution, many animals developed adaptations and evolved over time to be better suited for life on Earth. An example of a transitional fossil is Pakicetus, which is an early ancestor to today’s whales. (Berkeley)
b. Biogeography: Biogeography is the study of geographic distribution of animals. Species normally live close to others with a genetic relationship to them. An example of this is marsupials. Kangaroos and other marsupials are more dominant in Australia than in other places around the world. (book)
c. Comparative anatomy: Comparative anatomy involves observing body structures of today’s organisms to determine their evolutionary history. An example of this would be that bats, porpoises, and humans all …show more content…

Compare and contrast each of the following hominins to modern day humans. Describe similarities and differences with each.
a. Sahelanthropus tchadensis: Sahelanthropus tchadenis lived 7 to 6 million years ago, they are the oldest known hominin. They had human and ape features. There is a remaining cranial material which indicates they had small brains, even smaller than chimps. The ape features were a sloping face and an elongated skull. The human like features were canine teeth, middle part of the face, and a spinal cord opening underneath the skull. (5)
b. Australopithecus afarensis: There are remains of a 3.2-million-year-old female nicknamed Lucy. She belongs to the Australopithecus afarensis group. Lucy displayed a key human trait; upright walking posture. Although they walked like humans they were not as developed as humans today. They were short, had small heads, and brains that are one-third the size of a human’s brain today. The offspring grew quickly and reached adulthood earlier than today’s humans.

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