Human Evolution hecus/handbook2/handbook2.html

Primates The earliest primates have been around for about 65 million years or more. Characteristics: binocular vision, finger nails instead of claws*, 2 pectoral mammary glands*, less prominent snout (except in lemurs), relatively large brains.

Genera prior to Homo We don’t know for sure which species in prior genera were ancestral to humans. We can only guess. Generally it is easier to rule out candidates. Ardipithicus (4.4 mya) was a bipedal ape. Ardipithicus shows that bipedalism came very early. It was not a good walker. It still had an opposable big toe for climbing.

Ardipithicus

Australopithecines Contain the species: anamensis, afarensis (Lucy), africanus,bahrelghazali, garhi, and sediba; Australopithecus had both light boned (gracile) and heavy boned (robust) members. The heavy boned members have been reclassified as Paranthropus by some scientists: P. aethiopicus, P. boisei, and P. robustus; They’re all sometimes called Australopithecus

A. Afarensis

A. Afarenis

Homo habilis Homo Habilis – Lived 2.4 million to 1.4 million years ago. Are thought to have created some of the earliest stone tools. This is not certain. Some stone tools date from before the earliest “Homo” fossils so perhaps some pre-Homo genera like Australopithecus made stone tools.

Homo Habilis

Homo Erectus and Homo Ergaster There is controversy as to whether these are separate species. Some say that they are the same species. They may have been the first human species to use fire. Evidence of campfires have been found.

Homo Erectus (Ergaster?)

Homo Heidelbergensis Is thought to be the ancestor both of modern humans and neanderthals. First ancestor to regularly hunt big game. Evidence they also built shelters as well as lived in caves.

Homo Heidelbergensis

Out of Africa

Multiregional