TIME LINE OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
SPECIES NAME CHARACTERISTICS FOSSIL EVIDENCE
DRYOPTHECINE APES
Ardipithecus ramidus (NOT IN • More ape-like: small cranium / brain, prognathic • “Ardi” – an almost complete female
SAGs) jaw, arms and fingers long, prominent brow skeleton.
ridges, divergent big toe. Aramis in Ethiopia
5.8 – 4.4 mya Discovered by Tim White
• However, adapted for bipedalism: foramen
magnum more forward than that of apes.
AUSTRALOPITHECINES
Australopithecus afarensis • Ape-like: long arms, sloping face, prognathic jaw, • Lucy
no chin, large brow ridges, U-shaped palate, Awash Valley, Hadar in Ethiopia
large canines with diastema, small cranium / Discovered by Donald Johanson
4.0 -3.0 mya brain.
• Habitual bipedalism: forward position of foramen • Laetoli fossil footprints
magnum, foot is typical of modern humans. Does Laetoli in Tanzania
not have mobile big toe of apes (only slight Discovered by Mary Leakey
diversion - convergent). Has the arch. (SAGs: Laetoli footprints and Little Foot
being reclassified as Australopithecus
prometheus by Ron Clarke)
Australopithecus africanus • Thought to be the link between • Taung Child: Skull
(“Southern Ape”) Australopithecus and Homo species. North West Province Lime works in
Taung
Only found in SA. • Ape-like head: teeth and jaws much larger than Discovered by Professor Raymond Dart
humans, U-shaped palate, reduced canines, no
3.0 – 2.0 mya diastema.
• Mrs Ples: Skull
• Less prominent brow ridges. (later found out to be male)
Adult version of the Taung child
• Bipedalism: forward position of foramen Found in Sterkfontein Caves in Cradle
SPECIES NAME CHARACTERISTICS FOSSIL EVIDENCE
DRYOPTHECINE APES
Ardipithecus ramidus (NOT IN • More ape-like: small cranium / brain, prognathic • “Ardi” – an almost complete female
SAGs) jaw, arms and fingers long, prominent brow skeleton.
ridges, divergent big toe. Aramis in Ethiopia
5.8 – 4.4 mya Discovered by Tim White
• However, adapted for bipedalism: foramen
magnum more forward than that of apes.
AUSTRALOPITHECINES
Australopithecus afarensis • Ape-like: long arms, sloping face, prognathic jaw, • Lucy
no chin, large brow ridges, U-shaped palate, Awash Valley, Hadar in Ethiopia
large canines with diastema, small cranium / Discovered by Donald Johanson
4.0 -3.0 mya brain.
• Habitual bipedalism: forward position of foramen • Laetoli fossil footprints
magnum, foot is typical of modern humans. Does Laetoli in Tanzania
not have mobile big toe of apes (only slight Discovered by Mary Leakey
diversion - convergent). Has the arch. (SAGs: Laetoli footprints and Little Foot
being reclassified as Australopithecus
prometheus by Ron Clarke)
Australopithecus africanus • Thought to be the link between • Taung Child: Skull
(“Southern Ape”) Australopithecus and Homo species. North West Province Lime works in
Taung
Only found in SA. • Ape-like head: teeth and jaws much larger than Discovered by Professor Raymond Dart
humans, U-shaped palate, reduced canines, no
3.0 – 2.0 mya diastema.
• Mrs Ples: Skull
• Less prominent brow ridges. (later found out to be male)
Adult version of the Taung child
• Bipedalism: forward position of foramen Found in Sterkfontein Caves in Cradle
