1. Hominid Evolution

2. Hominids
Include all species in the human lineage, both modern and extinct.
Hominids walk upright, have long lower limbs, thumbs that oppose, and large brains.
Hominid evolution started 6 million years ago.

3. Two Groups:
Genus: Homo and Australopithecus

4. Austrlopithecus
Lived 4 million years ago. They had a smaller brain size than modern humans.
Average height: 3 to 4 feet-one of
the smallest hominids to ever live

5. Homo habilis
Lived million years ago and is the earliest hominid to make stone tools. They communicated using grunts and gestures.

6. Homo erectus Lived 1.8 million to 300,000 years ago.
They used tools, fire, and were the first to live in groups.
They could communicate better than Homo habilis, but not like us.

7. Homo neanderthalensis “Neanderthals”
Lived 200,000 to 30,000 years ago. Scientists found some evidence that they coexisted with humans. They were more intelligent than previous hominids.

8. Fossil Record
The fossil record shows a trend toward increased brain size, decrease in tooth size, and a flatter facial angle going from extinct hominids to the modern humans, Homo sapiens.

9. Modern Humans: Homo sapiens
We diverged from African apes, not monkeys!
We arose about 100,000 years ago in what’s now Ethiopia.
Modern humans have smaller jaws, teeth, and a larger brain that is more complex than any other hominid’s brain.