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Evolution of Man
Ardipithicus ramidus
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The Ardipithicus ramidus is the earliest fossil hominid in existence. Although missing parts, fossil evidence suggests that it existed around 4.4 million years ago, was about four feet tall, was bipedal, and was a forest dweller.
Ardipithicus anamensis
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Anamensis lived between 4.2 and 3.9 million years ago. Fossil evidence showed that they had more advanced bipedal features than their predecessors. This being said, anamensis had skulls that closely resembled the ramidus.
Australopithecus afarensis
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Afarensis lived somewhere between 3.9 and 3 million years ago.
They were between 3'6" and 5' tall, and were also fully bipedal (evidence showed that they were quite strong).
They had a brain capacity of about 450 cubic centimetres (compared to the modern human brain capacity of about 1350 cubic centimetres).
The head and face of afarensis were proportionately much larger than that of Homo sapiens sapiens. The larger head and powerful jaws are all features of all species prior to Homo sapiens sapiens.
They were between 3'6" and 5' tall, and were also fully bipedal (evidence showed that they were quite strong).
They had a brain capacity of about 450 cubic centimetres (compared to the modern human brain capacity of about 1350 cubic centimetres).
The head and face of afarensis were proportionately much larger than that of Homo sapiens sapiens. The larger head and powerful jaws are all features of all species prior to Homo sapiens sapiens.
Australopithecus africanus
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Africanus was quite similar to afarensis. They lived between 3 and 2 million years ago. It remained bipedal, but had a slightly larger body size. Although not advanced enough for speech, the brain was slightly larger, and ranged up to 500 cubic centimetres. It had much larger molars, was a herbivore, and its jaw shape was similar to that of Homo sapiens sapiens.
Australopithecus robustus
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Robustus lived between 2 and 1.5 million years ago. Still without speech capability, the brain volume increased to around 525 cubic centimetres. The skull and teeth were far larger and more massive than africanus. Its huge face was flat, had no forehead, and had large brow ridges.
Homo habilis
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Homo habilis showed a capability to develop and use tools. This species existed between 2.4 and 1.5 million years ago. Towards the ends of the existence of habilis, the brain volume had increased to around 800 cubic centimetres, and its shape indicated that some form of speech had been developed. Habilis weighed around 100 pounds and was about 5' tall. Some scientists believe that habilis is not a separate species and should be carried either as a later Australopithecine or an early Homo erectus. One possibility is that early habilis are Australopithecus, and later habilis are Homo.
Homo erectus
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Erectus lived between 1.8 million and 300,000 years ago. Early erectus had an average brain volume of about 900 cubic centimetres, but much later Homo erectus had brains as large as 1200 cubic centimetres (similar to that of a modern human). Without a doubt, they had speech capabilities. Erectus learned how to cook food, develop tools, and create weapons, by using fire. They travelled out of Africa and travelled as far as China and Southeast Asia, developing clothing for colder climates. They hunted for their food. Unlike the moden human, the face still had massive jaws, huge molars, no chin, a long low skull, and thick brow ridges. Although proportionately similar to the modern human, erectus was much stronger and had a sturdier built body.
Homo sapiens (archaic)
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Homo sapiens (archaic) bridges the gap between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens sapiens. It existed between 500,000 and 200,000 years ago. Brain size averaged about 1200 cubic centimetres (similar to erectus). Facial features resembled that of Homo sapiens sapiens, with smaller molars and brow ridges, a more rounded skull, and smaller features. It was well proportioned, but it still had a stronger skeletal build than Homo sapiens sapiens.
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
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Neanderthals resided in Europe and the Mideast between 150,000 and 35,000 years ago. Their brain sizes were actually larger than that of the modern human, with brain volumes of about 1450 cubic centimetres. Neanderthals were far stronger than the modern human, as they had extremely large skeletons, that allowed for the attachment of extremely large muscles. Overall, they were massive, as they had an average height of 5'6". Neanderthals had massive jaws, a receding forehead, and a structurally different nose than Homo sapiens sapiens. They coexisted with Homo sapiens (archaic) and early Homo sapiens sapiens. A theory for their disappearance about 35,000 years ago are that they were killed off by Homo sapiens sapiens. Another theory is that they may have combined their gene pool overtime with that of Homo sapiens sapiens, although recent DNA tests say that that is not the case.
Homo sapiens sapiens
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Homo sapiens sapiens, also known as the modern human, first appeared around 120,000 years ago. Their average brain size is 1350 cubic centimetres.
Sources: http://www.onelife.com/evolve/manev.html;
http://renovomedia.com/news/ardi-the-oldest-human-skeleton-disproves-missing-link; http://shadowness.com/Akela/australopithecus-anamensis; http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/170845/enlarge; http://www.maropeng.co.za/index.php/exhibition_guide/sterkfontein/australopithecus/; http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/170869/enlarge; http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/171099/enlarge; http://smithsonianscience.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/homo-erectus-300x200.jpg; http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/lifescience/physicalanthropology/humangeneticevolution/earlyarchaic/earlyarchaic.htm; http://scienceandbelief.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/neanderthal-615.jpg; http://news.discovery.com/history/stone-age-settlers-new-world.html
http://renovomedia.com/news/ardi-the-oldest-human-skeleton-disproves-missing-link; http://shadowness.com/Akela/australopithecus-anamensis; http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/170845/enlarge; http://www.maropeng.co.za/index.php/exhibition_guide/sterkfontein/australopithecus/; http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/170869/enlarge; http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/171099/enlarge; http://smithsonianscience.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/homo-erectus-300x200.jpg; http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/lifescience/physicalanthropology/humangeneticevolution/earlyarchaic/earlyarchaic.htm; http://scienceandbelief.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/neanderthal-615.jpg; http://news.discovery.com/history/stone-age-settlers-new-world.html