Physical Anthropology / M. Waters
FAMILY: Hominidae
GENUS: Australopithecus, 4.2 to 1.6 mya
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Relatively small brains (as compared to Homo, average cranial capacity: 420 cm3)
Shape of jaw long, and narrow with more prognathism than Homo
Large molar teeth (as compared to Homo), adaptation to diet based heavily on vegetation
Relative limb length (i.e. forelimbs to hindlimbs) intermediate between apes and Homo
Early species had stiff wrist joints like great apes
Sexual dimorphism
Examples of species:
1) afarensis (discovered 1974, Hadar, Ethiopia/E. Africa)
2) africanus (discovered 1925, Taung, South Africa)
GENUS: Paranthropus (a.k.a. “Robust” Australopithecus), 2.4 to 1 mya
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Relatively small brains (as compared to Homo, average cranial capacity: 520 cm3)
Adaptations to diet consisting of hard, fibrous vegetation (e.g. roots, tubers, etc.):
- large jaw bone with massive, square molars and thick tooth enamel
- sagittal crest on braincase
- large, flaring zygomatic arches, resulting in large cheekbones and facial “dishing”
(cheekbones protrude beyond nasal cavity)
Examples of species:
1) aethiopicus (a.k.a. the “Black Skull”, discovered 1985, Lake Turkana, Kenya/E. Africa)
2) boisei (discovered 1959, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania/E. Africa)
GENUS: Homo, 2.5 mya to present
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Larger cranial capacities than previous hominids (ranging from 500 to 2000 cm3)
Rounder cranium than earlier hominids with less prognathism (smaller delicate facial bones,
though some had heavy brow ridges)
Smaller molar teeth and jaws
More “advanced” behaviors: stone tool cultures, migration out of Africa (H. erectus), cultural
traditions, art (H. sapiens), etc.
Examples of species on the next page…
GENUS: Homo
SPECIES: habilus/rudolfensis (2.4 to 1.6 mya)
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Discovered 1961, Tanzania/E. Africa (Olduvai Gorge); remains also found in S. Africa
Larger cranial capacity (average 630 cm3) than Australopithecus/Paranthropus
Smaller molars and less prognathism than Australopithecus/Paranthropus
Behavioral features: Oldowan tool culture (stone core and flake technology); stone tool
cutmarks found on animal remains hint at scavenging as a strategy for obtaining meat
SPECIES: erectus/ergaster (1.8 mya to 200,000ya)
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Discovered 1891 Java, Indonesia; remains also found in China, Europe and Africa
Average cranial capacity: 900 cm3
Large, robust body build
Large browridges, sloping forehead
Other distinctive cranial features in those found outside Africa (erectus): nuchal torus (neck
muscle attachment site) and sagittal ridge (ridge along top of braincase); ergaster
specimens (Africa) lack these features and have thinner cranial bones, smaller browridges
Behavioral features: Acheulian tool culture (bifacial hand axes) as early as 1.4 mya in E.
Africa; first to migrate out of Africa?; contradicting evidence exists regarding hunting
behavior (scavenging for meat was more likely)
SPECIES: neanderthalensis (125,000 ya to 28,000 ya)
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Discovered 1856, Germany; remains also found in other parts of Europe, and Middle East
Range of cranial capacity: 1300cm3 to 2000 cm3
Distinctive cranial features: large browridge, sloping forehead, occipital bun, lack of chin
Distinctive skeletal features: “Stocky”/compact build, thick/robust bones with heavy muscle
markings (more so than modern H. sapiens)
Behavioral features: Mousterian tool culture (including spearheads for hunting large game);
burials, care of the sick/elderly, language (?)
SPECIES: floresiensis (95,000 ya to 18,000 ya)
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Discovered 2004, Flores, Indonesia
Extremely small bodied (approx. 3 feet tall) and small brained (380 cm3)
Cranial bones and dentition mostly resemble H. erectus
Highly unusual because small hominids were thought to have died out long ago; along with
tiny hominid remains, dwarf elephants were also discovered on Flores (perhaps small body
size was an evolutionary adaptation to limited resources available on the island)
SPECIES: sapiens (160,000 ya to present)
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Earliest fossil evidence is from Ethiopia/East Africa
Cranial features: distinctly round cranium, average cranial capacity of 1400 cm3, smaller
facial bones and browridges than Neanderthals, more pronounced chin
Skeletal features: body less muscular than earlier members of genus Homo
Early behavioral features: Upper Paleolithic tool culture (wider variety of materials used:
bone, antler, ivory, horns, etc. to make more complex tools and artifacts such as spear
throwers, bone needles, barbed hooks, etc.); first to create art (cave paintings, carvings,
sculptures, etc.); inventors of plant and animal domestication, civilizations, writing, etc.