August 30, 2010

HUMAN EVOLUTION
DRYOPITHECUS

Dryopithecus, an extinct group of apes. Fossils about 20 million years old have been
found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Dryopithecus had a semi erect posture and is
generally believed to be ancestral to modern apes and man. Proconsul, a group of
fossil apes that may have been the ancestor of the chimpanzee, is considered by
some authorities to be a subgroup of Dryopithecus.

RAMAPITHECUS

Ramapithecus an extinct group of primates that lived from about 12 to 14 million

years ago, for a time regarded as a possible ancestor of Australopithecus and,
therefore, of modern humans. Fossils of Ramapithecus were discovered in N India and
in E Africa, beginning in 1932. Although it was generally an apelike creature,
Ramapithecus was considered a possible human ancestor on the basis of the
reconstructed jaw and dental characteristics of fragmentary fossils. A complete jaw
discovered in 1976 was clearly non hominid, however, and Ramapithecus is now
regarded by many as a member of Sivapithecus, a genus considered to be an
ancestor of the orangutan.

AUSTRALOPITHECUS
Genus of extinct hominins that may be ancestral to human beings (Homo sapiens).
The name Australopithecus refers to the first fossils, which were discovered in South
Africa. Australopithecus lived in much of Africa during the Pliocene (c. 5.3 – 2.6 million
years ago [mya]) and Pleistocene (c. 2.6 million – 11,700 years ago) epochs. These
hominins were distinguished from apes by their upright posture and bipedal gait, and
their teeth were more humanlike than apelike, but their brains were small and not
very different from those of living apes. Five species are recognized: A. anamensis
(4.2 – 3.9 mya), A. afarensis (3.8 – 2.9 mya), A. bahrelghazali (3.5 – 3.0 mya), A.
africanus (3 – 2.4 mya), and A. garhi (2.5 mya).

Homo habilis
Extinct species of early hominin that is generally regarded as the earliest member of
the human genus, Homo. Homo habilis inhabited parts of sub-Saharan Africa about 2 –
1.5 million years ago. Remains were first discovered in 1959 and 1960 at Olduvai
Gorge in northern Tanzania; additional remains have since been found in the Lake
Turkana region of northern Kenya and, arguably, at Sterkfontein in South Africa. The
cranial capacity of H. habilis ranged from 500 to 800 cc. Limb bones suggest that the
species walked upright efficiently, and the fossil of a hand suggests that H. habilis was
capable of precise manipulation of objects. Crude tools found along with H. habilis
remains provide further evidence that this species could shape stone. They probably
did not eat meat.

Homo erectus
Extinct species of early hominin, perhaps a direct ancestor of human beings (Homo
sapiens). Homo erectus flourished from c. 1,700,000 to 200,000 years ago, ranging
widely from Africa (where the species probably originated) to Asia to parts of Europe.
Most of the anatomical differences between H. erectus and H. sapiens concern the
skull and teeth, H. erectus showing a low, thick braincase (800 – 1,100 cc) with jutting
browridges and a wide nose, palate, and jaw together with large teeth that are
nevertheless hominin and not apelike. The limb bones are similar to those of H.
sapiens, indicating that H. erectus was of medium stature and walked upright. The
species is associated with the Acheulean tool tradition and was the first hominin to
master fire and inhabit caves. They probably ate meat.

NEANDERTHAL MAN
Species of the human genus (Homo) that inhabited much of Europe and the
Mediterranean lands c. 200,000 – 28,000 years ago. The name derives from the
discovery in 1856 of remains in a cave above Germany's Neander Valley. Some
scholars designate the species as Homo neanderthalensis and do not consider
Neanderthals direct ancestors of modern humans (Homo sapiens). Others regard
them as a late archaic form of H. sapiens that was absorbed into modern human
populations in some areas while simply dying out in others. Neanderthals were short,
stout, and powerful. Cranial capacity of 1400cc equaled or surpassed that of modern
humans, though their braincases were long, low, and wide. Their limbs were heavy,
but they seem to have walked fully erect and had hands as capable as those of
modern humans. They were cave dwellers who used fire, wielded stone tools and
wooden spears to hunt animals, buried their dead, and cared for their sick or injured.
They may have used language and may have practiced a primitive form of religion.
Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens arose in Africa and moved across continents and developed into
distinct races. During ice age between 75,000-10,000 years ago modern Homo
sapiens arose. Pre-historic cave art developed about
18,000 years ago. Agriculture came around 10,000 years back and human
settlements started. The rest of what happened is part of human history of growth
and decline of civilizations.

N.JOHRI