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You discover the entire skeleton of a fossil primate that has long sharp crests and high, pointed cusps on its molars, long legs relative to its arms, and an estimated body mass of 150g. What can you deduce about the diet and locomotion of this primate?

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Final answer:

The primate's fossilized features suggest a diet of tough plant materials and bipedal locomotion similar to later hominids. Attributes like long legs, upright posture, and large molars are indicative of evolutionary adaptations suited for a savannah-like environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The discovery of a primate fossil with long sharp crests and high, pointed cusps on its molars, long legs relative to its arms, and an estimated body mass of 150g, allows for various deductions about its diet and locomotion. The molar structure suggests a diet that likely consisted of tough, fibrous plant material. Such teeth are commonly observed in species that are considered robust australopithecines, which had adaptations for chewing such vegetation.

The long legs relative to the arms and the upright posture are indicative of bipedal locomotion, which in turn suggests increased efficiency in walking on two legs as opposed to quadrupedalism. This mode of locomotion is a key characteristic of later hominids, particularly our own species, Homo sapiens. Together with an increase in brain size, especially in the frontal lobes, and the development of human-like feet with arches and ankles for improved bipedality, these features represent significant evolutionary adaptations.

The decreased bone mass of the skull and face, the shortening of the arms, and the increased dexterity of the hands point towards an evolutionary trend towards the modern human form. All these characteristics suggest a lineage that is well-adapted to life in a savannah-like environment where bipedalism would be advantageous for mobility and visibility over tall grasses and the ability to carry objects would be beneficial.

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