BIOLOGICAL

EVOLUTION OF EARLY
HUMANS AND MODERN
HUMANS
What is Evolution?

The changes that occur in a

population over time.
POPULATION- a group of the same
species that share a specific
location and habitat.
 Our Common Ancestor
Most scientists have believed our common
ancestor existed 5 to 8 million years ago. The
two species broke off into separate lineages,
one ultimately evolving into gorillas and
chimps, the other evolving into early humans
called hominids.
Modern humans- homo sapiens
The Fossil Record
Fossils – are the remains or impressions of
living things hardened in rock.
The earliest humans were found in
Africa, which is were much of human
evolution occurred. The fossils of these
early hominids, which lived 2 to 6 million
years ago, all, from that continent.
 AUSTRALOPITHECINES

An African apelike species evolved probably

around 6 million years ago with two skeletal
characteristics that set it apart from apes: small
canine teeth (the teeth on either side of the four
teeth) compared to the long canines found in
almost all other primates , and, most importantly,
bipedalism or walking on two legs as the primary
mode of locomotion.
 AUSTRALOPITHECINES

The name australopithecine means

“southern ape”, in reference to South Africa
where the first known fossils were found.
The best-known australopith specimen is
“Lucy” the partial skeleton of a female
discovered in 1974 in Hadar, Euthopia.
AUSTRALOPITHECINES
 THE GENUS HOMO

The genus homo first evolved at least 2.3

million to 2.5 million years ago. The most
significant difference between members of
this genus australopiths, with which they
overlapped, was their significantly large
brains (about 30 percent larger, though still
small compared to modern humans.)
Scientists divide the evolution of
the moderns human genus into
three rough periods: early, middle,
and late.
 Species of Early Homo (HOMO HABILIS)

Resembled australopiths in many

distinct ways, but they had smaller teeth
and jaws, more modern-looking feet,
and hands capable of making tools.
An early representative of modern
humankind.
HOMO HABILIS
 Middle Period: (HOMO ERECTUS)

Evolved anatomically to be more similar to

modern humans but their brains were
relatively small (though bigger than
australopiths).
Fossils have been found throughout Africa,
Europe, and much of Asia, and the species
may have survived for more than 1.5 million
years.
HOMO ERECTUS
 Middle to Late Periods: (HOMO SAPIENS)

Scientists have dated the oldest known

fossils with skeletal features typical of
modern humans from 195,000 years ago.
Evolved large and complex brains, leading
eventually to language, and developed
culture as an increasingly important aspect
of human life.
HOMO SAPIENS