Hominid Evolution Timeline

Thayer Sundol

4.4-3.8 million years ago

•Ardipithecus ramidus, Ardi

•Not yet a direct link to humans, but research is being done.

•Feet made for bi-pedal walking, not hanging from trees like monkeys.

•Transition between apes and humans.

3.7-3.3 million years ago

• Australopithecus afarensis, Lucy

• Lucy walked on 2 legs• She had a slightly

larger brain than apes and chimpanzees

• Earliest known common ancestor before Ardi.

3.3- 2.9 Million years ago

• Australopithecus africanus

• Larger brain size and more human like facial features.

2.9-1.8 Million years ago

• Homo habilis• Used stone tools• Tools made it

possible to venture further out of the Savannah

• Lost more hair making it look human like

2.3- 1.4 Million years ago

• Homo ergaster

• Co-existed with H. habilis for around 200- 400 thousand years

• Used advanced tools than that of its predecessor H. erectus

2.3- 1.8 Million years ago

• Homo georgicus

• Was intermediate between H. habilis and H. erectus

• Had a brain about half the size of modern humans

1.8- 1 Million years ago

• Homo erectus• Spread out of Africa

into asia• Used the same

tools like that of H. ergaster

• H. ergaster and H. erectus may be the same species

1.2Mya-500 thousand years ago

• Homo antecessor• First European

homonid • Possibly earliest

descendent of humans in Europe

• Slightly smaller brain size than modern humans

600- 400 thousand years ago

• Homo heidelbergensis

• Direct ancestor of H. neaderthalensis and H. sapiens.

• Primitive speech, and buried the dead.

350-30 thousand years ago

• Homo neanderthalensis• Co-existed with H.

sapiens until neanderthals went extinct.

• Different species than H. sapiens

• Left H. sapiens as the last Homo species on the planet.

200thousand years ago to present

• Homo sapiens• Developed alongside

neanderthals• Is exactly like us with

a few differences with the earlier humans.