1. THE CHANGING TREES OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

2. 1960 Up the ladder
The idea that one species smoothly evolves from one into another is regarded today as an oversimplification
Unfortunately it is a very persistent view that continually resurfaces in cartoons
johnquettant.tripod.com/evolution/EvoIntro.htm
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

3. Up the ladder Homo sapiens Homo erectus Australopithecus
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

4. Branching out
Homo sapiens
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
Australopithecus africanus
A. robustus
A. boisei
Australopithecus afarensis “Lucy”
Added 1974
The 1960s and 1970s were a fertile period for fossil hunting in Africa
The idea developed that more than one hominid species existed at the same time
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

5. Australopithecus afarensis
Changing status
Homo sapiens
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
A. africanus
A. robustus
A. boisei
Australopithecus afarensis
As more specimens were found a clearer idea developed of the relationships between them
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

6. 2001 From a tree to a bush Homo sapiens Homo neanderthalensis?
1 Ma
2 Ma
3 Ma
4 Ma
Homo sapiens
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
A. africanus
P. robustus
Paranthropus boisei
Australopithecus afarensis
Australopithecus anemensis
Ardipithecus ramidus
P. aethiopicus
Homo rudolfensis
H. ergaster
H. heidelbergensis
Homo neanderthalensis
A. garhi
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

7. 2003 DEEPER ROOTS ? 1 Ma 2 Ma 3 Ma 4 Ma 5 Ma 6 Ma
Homo sapiens
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
A. africanus
Paranthropus robustus
Paranthropus. boisei
Australopithecus afarensis
Australopithecus anemensis
Ardipithecus ramidus
P. aethiopicus
Homo rudolfensis
H. ergaster
H. heidelbergensis
Homo neanderthalensis
A. garhi
Orrorin tugensis
Gorilla gorilla
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
“Toumai”
Pan trogolodites
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

8. 2013 Change of Status ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 Ma 2 Ma 3 Ma 4 Ma 5 Ma 6 Ma
Homo sapiens
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
A. africanus
Paranthropus robustus
Paranthropus boisei
Australopithecus afarensis
Australopithecus anemensis
Ardipithecus ramidus
P. aethiopicus
H. rudolfensis
H. ergaster
H. heidelbergensis
Homo neanderthalensis
A. garhi
Orrorin tugensis
Gorilla gorilla
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
“Toumai”
Pan trogolodites ? ? ? ? ?
A. sediba ?
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS ?

9. How many more?
An estimated number of 16 hominid species is thought to have existed
This is based on the evolutionary patterns of other primates
Our family tree is similar to other species
Periods of radiation
Separated by periods of extinction
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS