Early Hominins and hominoids

Sahelanthropus tchadensis

West Africa, 7-6 mya

Ororin tugenensis

Ethiopia, 6 mya

Ardipithecus kadabba

5.8-5.5 mya

foot bone suggests bipedal

forest environment

Ardipithecus ramidus

4.4 mya

ethiopia

parts of at least 50 diff individuals

ardi

skull 300-350 cm³

4ft, 110 lbs

Centrally placed foramen magnum, pelvis, and foot indicating bipedalism but not with striding gaitt

diverging big toe

Australopithecus anamensis

4.0 mya

Meave Leakey and Alan Walker

Primitive jaw with sectorial lower first premolars

large canines but thick enamel on molars

leg bones consistent with bipedality

likely ancestor of A afarensis or possibly very early A. afarensis

Australopithecus afarensis

3.9- 3.0 mya

Ethiopia johannson and laetoli

Tanzania Leakey and white

Remains of 60-100 individuals

finds include Lucy and first family

ititialy suggested erecting and bipedal and w/ striding gait

disproven by fossilized foot steps

long arms relative to the trunk, slightly curved fingers

BUT relatively short fingers, fully opposable thumb

Small, strong

sexual dimorphism

cranial capacity 375-500

Australopithecus africanus

South Africa, 3.0/2.5-2.0

Dating problematic

found by dart, 3-4 years old

large molars

no projecting canines

no diastema

parabolic dental

central foramen magnum

cranial capacity 400cc

Paranthropus aethopicus

2.5 mya

black skull

410 cc

Paranthropus boisei

2.2-1.0 mya

no stone tools or cultural remains

500-520 cc

Paranthropus robustus

South Africa, 2.0- 1.2/1.0 mya

Leakey

Absolute dating possible→ volcanos

tools immediately

500-520 cc

Early homo

East and South Africa, 2.3-1.6 mya