Evidence

H. neanderthalensis H. sapiens
Comparison of Brain

– determine
a. Did they co-exist with any of the

other hominds?
b. Time range when they existed.
c. Essay -

Your group is assigned one Hominid to research.
Create an poster with the main criteria
Create a stick figure with the head attached. (height)
Use information given, notes and website to create posters of comparision.

when juvenile characteristics are retained by the adults of a

species

are up to 10 species and three genera (Australopithecus, Ardipithecus,

Paranthropus), depending on the view of the particular paleoanthropologist.

They are the first known habitually bipedal primates
(mixed skeletal traits suited for arboreal and bipedal locomotion)
Suited to herbivorous diet
Small brains.
No evidence of stone tool use.

Draw a rough timeline of these early hominins.
Ardipithecus ramidus (4.5-4.2 mya)
Australopithecus anamensis (4.2-3.8 mya)
Australopithecus afarensis (3.9-3 mya)
Australopithecus africanus (3-2.3 mya)
Australopithecus / Paranthropus robustus (2.2-1.5 mya)
Australopithecus / Paranthropus boisei (2.2-1 mya)

in the 1970s and came to be known as ‘Lucy’.
‘Lucy’

and other fossil evidence gave clear evidence of full bipedalism. There are also primitive features:
small brain 440cm3, similar to chimp
large canine teeth with diastema present
Long arms relative to legs
Increased valgus angle
jaws more parallel like apes
long and slightly curved finger bones.
Prognathism (jutting out of lower face).
Receding chin
Footprints showing bipedalism

a child about 3-4 years old named the ‘’Taung child’.
Foramen

magnum indicated bipedalism
Small canine teeth without a diastema
parabolic-shaped jaw more human than apelike
Small brain 440cm3
Hip girdle more humanlike than apelike

the Australopithecus genus by many scientists and the genus Paranthropus

by all the others.

They are more robust (heavily built) than the other Australopithecine species.
heavy skull with massive molars and premolars
large sagittal crest
large zygomatic arch indicating large jaw muscles for eating tough fibrous plant material (hence the given name ‘nutcracker man’ for A.boisei)

were likely to have been ancestral to Homo genus
A.ramidus was

likely to have been close to the ancestor of both humans and apes
Australopithecus/Paranthropus robustus and boisei were specialised herbivorous forms that were evolutionary dead ends; i.e left no present-day descendants.

have been many species in this genus, but only one

species, ours, Homo sapiens, survives. Other species we know of were; H. habilis, H. ergaster, H. erectus, H. floresiensis, H. antecessor, H. georgicus, H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis
With the genus Homo there was a sudden leap in brain size, a change in anatomy and the beginnings of stone tool culture and other cultural advances.

came to exist), Africa underwent more dramatic climate change, and

the habitat that had been occupied by early hominins became more open and arid.

This led to a change in the type of plant species that were successful - tougher foods that could withstand the drier conditions, such as roots and tubers became more prevalent.

between the Australopithecines and Homo species.
Had a body with longer

arms like Australopithecines, but a more human like face that was longer and narrower and less protruding.
Its teeth were smaller with a lighter jaw curved more like modern humans. It’s skull was more rounded.

It’s brain size was about 600-800 cc, about 50% bigger than Australopithecines, but still smaller than modern humans (1000-1800 cc).
About 1.3m tall.

H.habilis either lived at the same time as H. rudolfensis (more robust) or they may be the same species.

H.erectus are two species or one is uncertain. H. ergaster

(who remained in Africa) may have diverged from H. erectus (who migrated to Asia), or they may be different populations of the same species, H. erectus, living in different areas.
The African population is believed to be the ancestor of later Homo species H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens (us).

Both contained a larger brain than H. habilis of 750 - 1250 cc
About 1.6m tall.
They had a flatter face but large brow ridges, large jaw and no chin.

silent h, ‘Nee-an-der-tal’), were members of the Homo genus. They

looked different because they evolved in cold (European) climates and had adaptations to conserve heat.

Short stocky bodies that were very muscular.
Large head with huge projecting nose and deep set eyes under a prominent brow ridge and a sloping forehead.
Averaged heights of 1.5-1.7m tall.
Largest brain capacity of homo species of 1500 cc.

heidelbergensis in Africa.
Due to warmer climates, unlike the Neanderthals, H.

sapiens are tall and lanky with a more gracile (lightly built) skeleton.
Height varies from 1.5-1.8m.
Brain capacity ranges from 1000-1800 cc
We have a flat rather than sloping forehead with only a slight brow ridge. Small nose and jaw with a definite chin.
Jaw is v shaped with small uniform teeth suited for omnivorous diet.
Want to know more? Look in the mirror.