Fossil Ages and Early Hominin Evolution

Paleocene Epoch

Period starting 66 million years ago.

Eocene Epoch

Period starting 56 million years ago.

Oligocene

Period starting 34 million years ago.

Miocene Epoch

Period starting 22 million years ago.

Pliocene

Period starting 5.3 million years ago.

Pleistocene

Period starting 2.6 million years ago.

Holocene

Period starting 12,000 years ago.

Gigantopithecus

Lived 2 mya to 300,000 years ago in India, China, and Vietnam. Likely ancestor of orangutans

Ancestral miocene ape

Pierolapithecus

Lived 12.9 million years ago in Spain.Wrist mobility like apes. Stiff lower backs and wide shoulders.

Hispanopithecus

Late Miocene species from Spain, 9.5 mya. Enormous mobile hands.

Dryopithecus

Brain size around 300-330 cc.

Rudapithecus

Existed 10 million years ago in Hungary. Proportionally large brain

Proconsul

Early Miocene species from East Africa, 17-20 mya. Hung from arms. Migrated to Eurasia

Danuvius

Lived 11.62 million years ago in Germany.

Chororapithecus

Lived 8 mya in Ethiopia. Gorrlilla like teeth

Sahelanthropus

7 mya, partial skeleton nicknamed Toumaï. 378 cc brain size. Gorrilla-like brow ridge in both sexes. Enlarged molars. Spinal cord comes out bottom of skull.

Orrorin

6 mya, size of a chimpanzee with thick enamel on teeth. Long femurs that support bipedalism. Fingers curve. Lived in woodlands

Ardipithecus

4.4 mya in Ethiopia, flexible hands, likely bipedal. feet adapted to climbing and walking. Ate harder foods. Small non-dimorphic canines. Chimp sized brains

Paranthropus boisei

Lived 2.9-1.4 mya. Enormous area for muscle. Chewing machines

Australopithecus afarensis

3.8-2.9 mya, evidence of bipedalism. Chimp-sized with gorilla brain. Reduced canine dimorphism.Slow brain growth. Ankle sits under the knee. Lomekwian stone tools

Genus Homo

Brain size 500-750 ml, flatter face, long legs, reduced chewing musculature, rounder dental arcade, and toothe reduction

Homo habilis

Early member of genus Homo. Lived 1.8 mya. Robust hand. Used olowan stone tools 1.1 mya

Homo erectus

Known for archeulean tool use and migration. Direct human ancestor. Lived 2 mya-110,00 ya. Human proportions. Brain 940 cc Less chewing musculature and extended nose for water retention. Ventured out of Africa.

Homo floresiensis

Small hominin species from Flores.

Neanderthal

Close relative to modern humans. Not much of a forehead. Pronounced Browridge. Used teeth as tools.Broad nose, Huge brains.

adaptions to envrionment

Homo sapiens

Modern human species, emerged ~300,000 years ago. Middle stone age tools