Hominins

Australopithecus Anamensis

Time period: 4.2-3.9 mya; Location: East Africa (Kenya); Characteristics: Huge canine teeth, parallel tooth rows, thick tooth enamel, flexible elbows, weight-bearing tibia.

Australopithecus Afarensis

Time period: 3.6-3.0 mya; Location: East Africa (Ethiopia and Tanzania); Known as 'Lucy'; 3.5-4 feet tall, developed arch, parallel tooth rows, moderately large canines and incisors, prognathic, sexually dimorphic, bipedalism and tree living.

Australopithecus Africanus

Time period: 3.0-2.0 mya; Location: South Africa; Characteristics: Less prognathic, large molars, tooth rows beginning to curve, longer arms than legs.

Homo Habilis

Time period: 2.8-1.8 mya; Location: East Africa; Characteristics: Facial reduction, reduced brow ridge, frontal lobe expansion, used stone tools, ate both plants and animals.

Australopithecus Garhi

Time period: 2.5 mya; Location: Ethiopia; Characteristics: Longer face, large molars, small brain, human-like ratio of arm to leg length.

Australopithecus/Paranthropus Aethiopicus

Time period: 2.5 mya; Location: East Africa; Characteristics: Hyper robust, large sagittal crest, large cheek bones, flared, broad face.

Australopithecus/Paranthropus Boisei

Time period: 2.3-1.2 mya; Location: East Africa; Hyper-robust, largest molars, sagittal crest, no forehead.

Australopithecus/Paranthropus Robustus

Time period: 2.0-1.5 mya; Location: South Africa; Characteristics: Large, dished face, small incisors, may have used sharpened bones as tools.

Homo Erectus

Time period: 1.8 mya-100 kya; Locations: Africa, Asia, Europe; Characteristics: Less prognathic face, large brain, dental reduction, may have migrated out of Africa, used Acheulean handaxe.

Homo Naledi

Time period: 335-236 kya; Location: South Africa; Characteristics: Curved dental arcade, tiny brain, may have buried their dead.

Homo Heidelbergensis

Time period: 350-130 kya; Location: Africa and Europe; Characteristics: Arched brow ridges, robust skeleton, culture including hearths and Levallois tools.

Homo Neanderthalensis

Time period: 130-40 kya; Locations: Throughout Europe, parts of Asia; Characteristics: Sloping foreheads, occipital bun, culture including Mousterian tools and burials.