Physical Evolution of Human
Species
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Homo sapiens
Chimpanzees (Pan)
H. heidelbergensis
H. neanderthalensis
1
H. erectus
H. floresiensis
Paranthropus boisei
H. antecessor
P. robustus
H. habilis
2
H. ergaster
Au. garhi
Millions of Years
H. rudolfensis
P. aethiopicus
3
Kenyanthropus platyops
Au. africanus
Australopithecus bahrelghazali
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5
6
7
8
Australopithecus anamensis
Archaic and Modern Humans: Rapid advances in brain size;
suite of new behaviors. Anatomically modern humans emerge
from one of the many regional variants.
Erectines: Body height of modern proportions. Increasing
brain volume. Sophisticated tools are manufactured and
used to kill and process small sized game.
Australopithecines: Possessed a gracile body form and were
probably opportunistic omnivores/scavengers.
Habilines: Brain enlargement, first recognizable stone
tools, body remains small/slight.
Paranthropines: Early hominids specialized for eating a
bulky, low-grade vegetarian diet. Developed powerful
chewing muscles and a generally robust skull.
Early Hominids: Brain size similar to modern chimpanzees,
body remains small/slight. Hominid status may be in question.
Au. afarensis
Ardipithecus ramidus
Orrorin tugenensis
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
Human Evolution Timeline

A number of fossil hominid species from the period 3.5
to 6.5 million years ago have been discovered in recent
years.

They have been assigned to the following genera:
 Sahelanthropus
 Orrorin
 Ardipithecus
 Australopithecus
Human Evolution Timeline
In 2001, the 6-7 my old remains of a nearly
complete skull with gorilla-like features was
unearthed in Chad.
Nicknamed “Toumai” and assigned to a new
genus, Sahelanthropus tchadensis, scientists
debate whether it is human or the remains of a
proto-gorilla.
Photos courtesy of: SkullsUnlimited.com
Human Evolution Timeline
 Orrorin tugenensis, or
‘Millennium man’ was
discovered in late 2000 in Kenya.

It is claimed to be the oldest
hominid yet described.
Photos courtesy of: SkullsUnlimited.com
Human Evolution Timeline
Originally given the name Australopithecus ramidus, it was
reclassified under a new genus, Ardipithecus.
Two subspecies have been identified:
A. ramidus ramidus (4.4 my old) and A. ramidus kadabba (5.8 my old)
Regarded by some researchers as ‘simply an ape with some
unusual characteristics’.
Human Evolution Timeline
Discovered at Kanapoi, Kenya in 1994, this earliest known
species of the genus Australopithecus had a mixture of
primitive, ape-like features and advanced, human-like features.
Human Evolution Timeline

The last 3 million years have seen a series of adaptive
radiations among the more advanced hominid groups:
Human Evolution Timeline
Discovered in Kenya, a new genus
Kenyapithecus appears to be an offshoot
from the main evolutionary branches
Photos courtesy of: SkullsUnlimited.com
Human Evolution Timeline
As many as four species from the genus Australopithecus
emerge, with a wide geographic distribution, ranging from
southern Africa, through East Africa, to Chad in the north.
Human Evolution Timeline
A group of species from the genus Paranthropus emerge in
southern and eastern Africa. Superbly adapted to exploit low
grade vegetarian diet, they coexist with the emerging genus
Homo.
Human Evolution Timeline
From a probable Australopithecine ancestor emerges the first species of
genus Homo.
A small-brained species with fully developed bipedal locomotion, it has a
talent for shaping tools from stone. This hominid does not venture out of
Africa.
Human Evolution Timeline
What followed was an adaptive radiation of the genus Homo,
leading to increased body height, brain capacity, complex
social behavior, and a geographic distribution that extended
well beyond Africa.
Human Evolution Timeline
A recent discovery in 2003 of a ‘pygmy’ species of
human that lived on the Indonesian island of Flores
between 95 000 - 13 000 years ago.
Photos courtesy of: SkullsUnlimited.com
Research: