Evolution 

adaptations - changes in physical structure, function, or behavior that allow an organism or species to survive and reproduce in a given environment.

anatomical - pertaining to an organism’s physical structure.

anthropology - the study of humankind, viewed from the perspective of all people and all times.

arboreal - tree-dwelling, adapted to living in the trees.

arboreal adaptation - a suite of physical traits that enable an organism to live in trees.

biological (physical) anthropology - the study of the evolution, variation, and adaptation of humans and their past and present relatives.

bipedalism - walking on two feet.

canine–premolar honing complex - the dental form in which the upper canines are sharpened against the lower third premolars when the jaws are opened and closed.

culture - learned behavior that is transmitted from person to person.

dental formula - the numerical description of a species’ teeth, listing the number, in one quadrant of the jaws, of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.

diastema - a space between two teeth.

dietary plasticity - a diet’s flexibility in adapting to a given environment.

habitat - the specific area of the natural environment in which an organism lives.

hominins - humans and humanlike ancestors.

Homo erectus - an early species of Homo and the likely descendant of H. habilis.

iteroparous - can have several reproductive periods throughout their lifetime

language - a set of written or spoken symbols that refer to things (people, places, concepts, etc.) other than themselves.

material culture - the part of culture that is expressed as objects that humans use to manipulate environments.

nonhoning canine - an upper canine that, as part of a nonhoning chewing mechanism, is not sharpened against the lower third premolar

opposable - refers to the thumb of primates, in that it can touch each of the four fingertips, enabling a grasping ability.

parental investment - the time and energy parents expend for their offspring’s benefit.

power grip - a fistlike grip in which the fingers and thumbs wrap around an object in opposite directions.

preadaptation - an organism’s use of an anatomical feature in a way unrelated to the feature’s original function.

precision grip - a precise grip in which the tips of the fingers and thumbs come together, enabling fine manipulation.

primates - a group of mammals in the order Primates that have complex behavior, varied forms of locomotion, and a unique suite of traits, including large brains, forward-facing eyes, fingernails, and reduced snouts.

primitive characteristics - characteristics present in multiple species of a group.

rhinarium - the naked surface around the nostrils, typically wet in mammals.

social learning - the capacity to learn from other humans, enabling the accumulation of knowledge across many generations.

taxonomy - the classification of organisms into a system that reflects degrees of relatedness.

terrestrial - life-forms, including humans, that live on land versus living in water or in trees

tooth comb - anterior teeth (incisors and canines) that have been tilted forward, creating a scraper.