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Evolution:
Descent of Man
Go to the Think Quest page.
Humans have been in search for their ancestors for centuries. While some of our ancestors have been found, others remain enigmatic and unknown. Search some of our known ancestors through this page. Discover how we have evolved from monkeys to humans.
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Australopithecus anamensis -oldest member of its genus, dates from around four million years ago. |
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Australopithecus bahrelghazali -jaw and teeth were found 1, 500 miles west of the East African Rift. |
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Australopithecus afarensis Date range: 3.9 to 3.1 million years ago. Distribution: Eastern Africa Features: Ape-like arms, with spine, pelvis and lower limbs suited for an upright stance and two-legged gait. |
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Ausralopithecus africanus Date range: 3 to 2.3 million years ago. Distribution: Southern Africa. Features: A higher, rounder braincase that afaensis but limbs possibly less adapted for bipedalism. |
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Australopithecus aethipoicus Date range: 2.6 to 2.2 million years ago. Distribution: Eastern Africa. Features: Massive chewing muscles anzhored to a prominent bony crest along the top of the skull. |
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Australopithecus boisei Date range (including A.aethiopicus): 2.6 to 1 million years ago. Distribution: Eastern Africa. Features: Powerful upper body, tall upper jaw, largest molars of any hominid. |
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Australopithecus robustus Date range: 2 to 1.2 million years ago. Distribution: Southern Africa. Features: A flatter face with more prominent cheeks and less protruding jaws than afarensis or aficanus. |
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Homo habilis Date range (including H. rudolfensis): 2.5 to 1.6 million years ago Distribution: Eastern and southern Africa. Features: Larger brain and smaller teeth than Australopithecus. |
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Homo redolfensis Date range: 2.5 to 1.9 million years ago. Distribution: Eastern Africa. Features: A long, broad face with flatter browridges and a larger, rounder braincase than habilis. |
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Homo ergaster Date range: 1.8 to 1.4 million years ago. Distribution: Eastern Africa Features: smaller jaws and a more projecting nose than earlier Homo; more modern arm and leg proportions.
*Homo erectus came up right after Homo ergaster and then Homo sapiens. |