HUMAN EVOLUTION Courtesy

Survey – Beliefs in Human Evolution

Skeletal Comparisons

PosturePongidHominid Bent over or quadrapedal; Knuckle walking common Upright or bipedal

Leg and Arm PongidHominid Arms longer than legs, adapted for swinging by arm usually among trees Legs usually longer than arms; adapted for striding

FeetPongidHominid Low arches; opposable big toes capable of grasping High arches; big toes in line with others; adapted for walking

TeethPongidHominid Prominent; large gaps between canines and nearby teeth Reduced; reduced or absent gaps

SkullPongidHominid Bent forward from spinal column; very rugged; prominent brow ridges Upright on spinal column; smooth brow ridges

FacePongidHominid Jaws jut out; very heavy; very wide nasal opening; sloping Vertical profile; More distinct chin; Prominent nasal spine

Brain Size PongidHominid cm 3 (current) cm 3 (fossil to present)

Proposed Hominid Evolution

Comparison of Hominid Brain Size

This genetic distance map made in 2002 is an estimate of 18 world human groups by a neighbor-joining method based on 23 kinds of genetic information.

Out of Africa