Question

A preaustralopithecine most likely has which of the following characteristics?

a. nonhoning dentition, primitive apelike traits, and increased brain size.
b. modified honing dentition, primitive apelike traits, and increased brain size.
c. modified honing dentition, primitive apelike traits, and small brain size.
d. nonhoning dentition, loss of apelike traits, and small brain size.

Answer 1

A preaustralopithecine most likely had modified honing dentition, primitive apelike traits, and a small brain size, along with bipedal locomotion.

Step-by-step explanation:

A preaustralopithecine most likely had characteristics like modified honing dentition, primitive apelike traits, and a small brain size. These early hominins displayed features that were more similar to great apes than to modern humans, such as sexual dimorphism similar to that seen in gorillas and orangutans, and smaller brain sizes comparable to those of great apes. Despite their small brains, a key feature they had in common with modern humans was bipedalism, although it's likely they also spent time in trees.