HistBio — 28. Some Species of Hominids
Minimal data on some hominid species, knowledge of which is part of the "gentlemen's minimum" for a biologist.
Minimal data on some hominid species, knowledge of which is part of the biologist's "gentleman's minimum." The main source is the Antropogenez.ru website, especially the human evolutionary tree presented on it.
Species
Known Finds
Brief Description
Nakalipithecus nakayamai. Nakalipithecus
Around 9.8 million years ago. Kenya
Probably the last common ancestor of humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees. Most likely, it was quadrupedal. Remains are fragmentary (mainly teeth)
Sahelanthropus tchadensis. Sahelanthropus
7-6 million years ago. Chad
Remains of 6 individuals found. The owner of a complete skull was named Toumaï. Sometimes considered the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees. The position of the occipital foramen indicates bipedalism
Orrorin tugenensis. Orrorin
6 million years ago. Kenya
Archaic bipedal species. Fragmentary remains of at least 5 individuals are known
Ardipithecus kadabba
5.5 million years ago. Ethiopia
Fragments of skeletons of 5 individuals are known. Limb remains indicate quite vertical bipedalism
Ardipithecus ramidus
4.4 million years ago. Ethiopia
A significant number of fragments from many individuals. A skeleton preserved at 45% was named Ardi. A mosaic of ape and human features
Australopithecus anamensis
4.2–3.9 million years ago. Kenya
Remains of over 20 individuals. Approximately midway between chimpanzees and humans. Bipedal, but could lean on its knuckles
Australopithecus afarensis
4.0–2.5 million years ago. Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Remains of over 35 individuals. A skeleton preserved at 40% was named Lucy and described by Donald Johanson. Advanced specialization for bipedalism, the pelvis is practically human. Height 1-1.5 m, weight 30-45 (55) kg
Kenyanthropus platyops
3.5–3.2 million years ago. Kenya
A specialized species, which is sometimes grouped with Homo rudolfensis. The wide, flat face may be the result of deformation. Otherwise, it was likely close to Australopithecus africanus.
Australopithecus africanus
3.5–2.4 million years ago. South Africa
Apparently a species not belonging to our lineage. It includes the "Taung Child", described by Raymond Dart in 1925.
Australopithecus garhi
2.5 million years ago. Ethiopia
"Garhi" means "surprise" in the Afar language. A late gracile australopithecine that used stone tools and cracked antelope bones with them. Apparently does not belong to "our" lineage. Brain volume — 440 cm³
Australopithecus sediba
2.0–1.8 million years ago. South Africa
A species related to Australopithecus africanus, which has even more hominid features than Homo habilis
Paranthropus aethiopicus
2.5 million years. Kenya, Ethiopia
The most ancient of the robust australopithecines, classified in the genus Paranthropus. Likely a herbivorous species.
Paranthropus boisei. Paranthropus boisei
2.5-1.0 million years ago. East Africa
The first skull, described by Mary Leakey, was named 'Nutcracker' due to its extremely massive lower jaw.
Paranthropus robustus. Paranthropus robustus
2.5–0.9 million years ago. South Africa
Skull is massive, forehead sloped, jaws powerful. Likely used bone tools to finish off termites.
Homo habilis. Skillful human
2.3-1.5 million years ago. Kenya, South Africa
Discovered by Louis Leakey. Sometimes classified under the genus Australopithecus. A widespread species that made stone tools and became omnivorous. Oldowan culture
Homo rudolfensis. Rudolf man
2.3–1.5 million years ago. Kenya
Possibly an independent evolutionary branch of early Homo. Large teeth, a relatively large braincase, but probably close to Homo habilis. Brain volume over 700 cm³
Homo ergaster. Working Man
1.4-1.8 million years ago. Eastern and Southern Africa, Georgia
A nearly complete skeleton found by Richard Leakey is called the "Turkana Boy". Sometimes regarded as archaic Homo erectus. Brain volume — 800–900 cm³. Individuals found in Dmanisi, Georgia (770 thousand years ago) are sometimes classified as Homo georgicus. Culture is mainly Oldowan, possibly also Acheulean Homo erectus. Homo erectus
Homo erectus. Upright man
1.5–0.4 million years ago. Africa, Southern Europe, and Southern Asia from Spain to Indonesia
First discovered on Java by Eugène Dubois. The longest-surviving human species. The postcranial skeleton practically corresponds to that of Homo sapiens. Early and Middle Acheulean culture
Homo heidelbergensis. Heidelberg Man
800-130 thousand years ago. Africa, Europe, ?Asia
Archaic representatives of this species from Spain may be classified as Homo antecessor (preceding human), and those from South and East Africa as Homo rhodesiensis. The culture is Acheulean with elements of Mousterian.
Homo helmei
500–130 thousand years ago. East and South Africa
African paleoanthropines. Some (beginning from 195 thousand years ago) are classified as Homo sapiens
Homo neanderthalensis. Neanderthal man
130-28 thousand years ago. Europe, Asia from the Middle East to Southern Siberia
Paleoanthropes of Europe. A robust species of humans that interbred with representatives of our species. They had larger brains than Homo sapiens. All modern humans, except indigenous Africans, have about 2.5% Neanderthal genes.
Homo floresiensis. Flores man
95-12 thousand years BP. Flores, Indonesia
A sensational discovery made in 2003 in Liang Bua cave on Flores Island. Dwarf (~1 m tall) humans with a 400 cm³ brain — smaller than a chimpanzee's — who nevertheless made Acheulean stone tools. Probably dwarfed descendants of Homo erectus. Perished as a result of a volcanic eruption
Homo sapiens idaltu
150–160 thousand years ago, Ethiopia, village of Herto
An archaic subspecies of our species, known from a single habitat (10 individuals). Acheulean is a Middle Paleolithic culture.
Homo sapiens sapiens
from 100 thousand years ago
Our subspecies. According to some estimates, it has existed for 200 thousand years (including individuals who could otherwise be regarded as late representatives of Homo helmei).