Term
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Definition
Aegyptopithecus – 30 M.Y.A.
• Oligocene Epoch (33-23 M.Y.A.)
• Fiume, Egypt
• Probable Old World monkey line
• Sagittal crest
• SUPER SMALL ONE! |
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Definition
Proconsul africanus – 23 M.Y.A.
• Miocene Epoch (23-5.3 M.Y.A.)
• Ape – no tail
• Sexual dimorphism
• Eyes more forward facing |
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Definition
Sahelanthropus tchadensis – 7-6 M.Y.A. – Chad, Africa
• Commonly called “Chad Man”
• Miocene Epoch (23-5.3 M.Y.A.)
• Small brain (400cm3)
• Smaller canines than the great apes
• Large central incisors (an ape-like characteristic)
• Intermediate enamel thickness
• Large and continuous supraorbital torus (an ape-like characteristic)
• Foramen magnum more toward the back but further forward than in apes
• Possibly a biped |
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Definition
Ardipithecus ramidus – 4.4 M.Y.A –Afar Rift, northeastern Ethiopia, Africa
• Pliocene Epoch (5.3-1.8 M.Y.A.)
• Small brain (300-350 cm3)
• Canines and cheek teeth relatively small, back molars roundish square
• Dental enamel relatively thin
• Foramen magnum more forward than in apes
• Pelvis and foot consistent with bipedalism, but big toe able to grasp objects
• May be a distant relative |
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Definition
Australopithecus afarensis LUCY! – 3.2 M.Y.A. –Hadar, Ethiopia & Laetoli, Tanzania, Africa
• Pliocene Epoch (5.3-1.8 M.Y.A.)
• Small brain (400 cm3)
• Pelvis and foot for habitual bipedal locomotion
• Retained longer, more curved metatarsals and pedal phalanges
• Canines smaller, diastema, and lower first premolar is semi-sectorial
• Lucy – close cousin to modern humans |
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Definition
Australopithecus (Kenyanthropus) platyops – 3.2 M.Y.A. – Lake Turkana, Kenya
• Pliocene Epoch (5.3-1.8 M.Y.A.)
• Small brain (400 cm3)
• Somewhat flatter face
• Thick Enamel
• Contemporary with A. afarensis
• Probably a biped |
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Definition
Australopithecus africanus – 4(?)-2.5 M.Y.A.Pliocene Epoch (5.3-1.8 M.Y.A.) Sterkfontein, S. Africa
• Infant not a chimpanzee
• “Southern Ape” Man
• Small brain (400 cm3)
• Contemporary to Homo habilis
• Projecting face
• Thick tooth enamel/Relatively parallel tooth rows
• Wide molars and smaller canines
• Foramen magnum farther forward
• Some postorbital constriction |
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Definition
Australopithecus Paranthropus aethiopicus – 2.5 – 1.8 M.Y.A. –
Ethiopia
• Pliocene Epoch (5.3-1.8 M.Y.A.)
• “Black Skull”
• Small brain (410 cm3)
• Large sagittal crest
• Thick tooth enamel/Parabolic dental arcade
• Marked postorbital constriction |
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Definition
Australopithecus Paranthropus robustus – 1.8-1.2 M.Y.A.
Swartkrans, South Africa
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Large Sagittal Crest
• Molars & premolars large relative to incisor size & body size
• Thick tooth enamel
• Large Mandible
• Marked postorbital constriction |
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Definition
Australopithecus Paranthropus boisei – 1.8-1.1 M.Y.A. – Omo, Ethiopia
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 M.Y.A)
• “Nut Cracker”/Hyper-robust species
• Vegetarian – Tubers
• Small brain (400 cm3)
• Large Sagittal Crest
• Anterior dentition reduced (incisors and canines)
• Molars and premolars large
• Thick tooth enamel
• Large Mandible
• Significant postorbital constriction
• Contemporary to Homo erectus |
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Term
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Definition
Homo habilis – 2.5 (?) M.Y.A.
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Early erectus type/Transitional species between australopithecines and H. erectus
• “Handyman” / “Tool Maker”
• Early pebble tools
• Brain slightly larger (600 cm3)
• Smaller Molars and premolars (larger than in later species)
• Probably did not leave Africa |
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Definition
Homo ergaster (or erectus-type) – 1.8 M.Y.A. - 13 K.Y.A
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Homo erectus type
• Scavenged carcasses – used tools for this purpose – hand ax
• Brain of 12 year old 800 cm3 / Adult Brain 1200-1300 cm3
• Cranium not as thick
• Smaller brow ridge
• Smaller area for muscle insertion on the occipital
• Leaves Africa first goes to Georgia, east of the Black Sea
• Apparently not yet using fire |
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Definition
Homo erectus – China – 1.8 M.Y.A. - 13 K.Y.A. (This specimen 500 K.Y.A.)
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Homo erectus-type
• Brain 1300 cm3
• Keeling of the midline of the cranium
• Shovel shaped teeth (incisors)
• Reduction in molar and premolar size
• Cranium usually wider at the base than on top
• Modern humans likely interbred with Homo erectus in China |
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Term
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Definition
Homo erectus (Rhodesian Man/Goliath); this specimen 500 KYA.
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Homo erectus type
• Brain 1500-1600 cm3
• Over 6 ft. tall and 200-220 lbs.
• All animals are big during this time period (500 KYA
• Some suggested offspring of this erectus-type evolved into Neanderthal |
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Definition
Homo steinheminses– 350 K.Y.A. - 250 K.Y.A. (This specimen 300 K.Y.A)
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Transitional form between H. erectus and early archaic H. sapiens
• Brain 1280 cm3
• Widest cranial breadth in the parietal region
• Brow ridges robust/Forehead is receding
• May or may not be ancestor to Neanderthals |
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Term
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Definition
Homo neanderthalensis – 220 - 27 K.Y.A.
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Bowed femur and radius
• Large brain
• Large crania with bun shaped occipital bone
• Greatest width of the cranium in parietal region
• No mental eminence (chin)
• Large nasal aperture
• Pronounced brow ridge (less than H. erectus)
• Premolar and molar size continue to decrease
• Face projects forward
• Large animal predators
• Modern humans did not evolve from Neanderthal
• Modern humans probably interbreed with them
o Dental nerve plate |
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Definition
Modern Homo sapiens (Skhūl V.) – 120 K.Y.A. - Present
(This specimen 120 K.Y.A)
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A and Holocene)
• Modern human (older)
• Archaic brow ridges
• Slightly vertical forehead
• Small occipital bun
• Chin
• Large cranial capacity |
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Definition
Modern Homo sapiens (Cro-Magnon) – 35 K.Y.A. - 10 K.Y.A.
(This specimen 32 K.Y.A)
• Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 M.Y.A. – 10 K.Y.A)
• Modern human
• No brow ridges
• Vertical forehead
• Mental eminence (chin)
• No occipital bun
• Left Africa 40 K.Y.A.
• Went into Central Asia and then West into Western Europe (Germany, France, Spain)
• Cave paintings used as library
• Large Cranial Capacity |
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