Fossils of Closely Related Species

[Drakkith]

Hey all. I've got a question regarding fossils. Each individual person is unique, and the variation between any two people can be significant. How large are the differences between individual humans compared to the differences between closely related species in our fossil record? How do biologists tell the difference between two closely related species and two members of the same species when looking at fossilized remains?

 

[mfb]

How do biologists tell the difference between two closely related species and two members of the same species when looking at fossilized remains?

This issue frequently leads to discussions, as there is no clear way to group everything into distinct species for obvious reasons.

and the variation between any two people can be significant

Not so much in terms of bones, so the fossil remains would look very similar.

 

[tom aaron]

It's a great question.

Most of us who work in paleontology are geologists...not biologists.

For the most part we don't really care about biological species.. No way of telling for the most part. Paleontology is a wide field but for the most part fossils are used in biostratigraphy...aging formations, etc. What matters is that A comes before B. Find similar fossils elsewhere and the patterns repeat. Bottom line, the taxonomy is largely a tool rather than biology based. Of course, one is not exclusive of the other.

Distinction between biological species is difficult but more the area of vertebrate paleontology such as mammals, Dino's, etc. Some of those paleontologists have a biology background rather than geology. Even there, any taxonomic label below 'family' can be iffy.

Just a note...vertebrate paleontology is a small part of the field. Most of us study conodonts, brachiopods, foraminifera, etc. A small percent of paleontologists could name Dinos any more accurately than a 10 year old.

 

[Evo]

Hey all. I've got a question regarding fossils. Each individual person is unique, and the variation between any two people can be significant. How large are the differences between individual humans compared to the differences between closely related species in our fossil record? How do biologists tell the difference between two closely related species and two members of the same species when looking at fossilized remains?

There are pronounced differences in just for example, humans and their predecessors. Neanderthals as opposed to homo sapiens had large occipital buns and deep brow ridges. Sorry, I'm having one of my headaches, but can link more tomorrow perhaps. I have already posted the information here recently.

They're good questions. It seems to come down to where specimens are found and slight differences.

(See more below)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/k.html

Wikipedia actually collects information from different sources on Peking man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_Man

If you're really interested drak, I can get more, a very good friend of mine is a well known paleontologist.

 

[Drakkith]

If you're really interested drak, I can get more, a very good friend of mine is a well known paleontologist.

Sure. I always like learning about evolution and anything related to it.

 

[Evo]

Here you can read through this and click on each picture for details on facial structure, etc...

http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-heidelbergensis