A scientist finds a The fossil is of an animal that walks on all fours. The scientist wonders, "Could this be a primate?", "Could it be a hominid?", "Could it be a hominin?".The scientist concludes that it could be a or a but not a because are (walk upright on two legs)
The scientist concludes that it could be a primate or a hominid, but not a hominin because hominins are characterized by bipedalism or walking upright on two legs. The fossil of an animal that walks on all fours could be a primate or a hominid since these groups include species that walk on four legs. However, further analysis and comparison with other fossils and species would be needed to determine the exact classification of the animal in question.
Based on the information provided, the scientist finds a fossil of an animal that walks on all fours. The scientist wonders if it could be a primate, a hominid, or a hominin.
1. Primate: Primate is a broad category that includes animals such as monkeys, apes, and humans. Since the fossil walks on all fours, it is possible that it could belong to the primate category. However, further investigation is required to confirm this.
2. Hominid: Hominid is a more specific category within the primate family, which includes apes and humans. As the fossil is found to walk on all fours, it is again a possibility but not definitive. More evidence and analysis would be needed to determine if it fits within the hominid category.
3. Hominin: Hominin is an even narrower category within the hominid family that includes humans and their closest extinct relatives. In order for a fossil to be classified as a hominin, one of the defining characteristics is that it walks upright on two legs (bipedalism). Since the fossil walks on all fours, it cannot be classified as a hominin.
Therefore, the scientist concludes that the fossil could potentially be a primate or a hominid, but not a hominin because hominins walk upright on two legs.