Taxonomy classifies forms of life using binomial names. Binomial names are denoted by the form [Genus species]. Sometimes a race, or subdivision within the species, is placed at the end of a binomial name for clarification.
Australopithecines
Australopithecus is the first genus to be discussed here. Its members walked upright in open country. Their brain capacity, at 450-600 cubic centimeters, was relatively small.
Until about a million years ago, Australopithecines lived by consuming plants in Africa. They stood at about 4-5 feet in and possessed elongated arms.
The species within the Australopithecus genus include anamensis, africanus, afarensis, robustus, and boisei. Australopithecus anamensis is their earliest member, existing from 4.2 to 3.9 million years ago.
Afarensis, existing from 3.9 to 3.0 million years ago, had a brain capacity of 375-550cc. They had a pelvic and leg structure which indicates they were bipedal, and were sexually dimorphic (females were substantially smaller than the males).
Africanus was lightly built in bone and jaw structure. They had a brain capacity from 420-500cc and existed from 3 to 2 million years ago. It is believed that while the heavily structured robustus remained vegetarian, africanus ventured into eating meat. This dietary change may have been crucial to the future development of our species.
Australopithicus Boisei can be thought of as an east African variety of robustus. It had exaggerated features, the most prevalent being its massive jaw.
The Path to Modern Humans
Homo habilis, nicknamed “handy human”, lived alongside australopithecines. They existed from 2.4-1.5 million years ago, and were the first species of which modern humans can closely identify. With brain capacities ranging from 500-800cc, they used tools, wore protective clothing, and utilized shelter.
Living in trees and on ground, habilis was the predominate species during stone age and may have been capable of rudimentary speech. They went extinct around 35,000 years ago.
Existing from 1.8 million to 300,000 years ago, Homo erectus evolutionarily replaced habilis. Among their accomplishments was leaving Africa for Europe and Asia.
Erectus had a much larger brain capacity (from 750-1225cc), more sophisticated tools, and used fire. They established culture and developed rudimentary language.
Homo sapiens, “intelligent humans”, evolved about 200,000 years ago. Homo sapiens are modern humans. We evolved from erectus.
There are two recognized lines of Homo sapiens. For whatever reason, only one survives today.
Neanderthals lived from 125,000 to 30,000 years ago. They stood about 5 feet tall and were stocky with powerful builds.
The skull of the Neanderthal is large, with a brain capacity topping modern humans (1,450 cubic centimeters to 1,350 for modern humans). Their foreheads were sloped with a predominant brow, and their jaws were heavy with a small chin.
They made tools, lived in huts and caves, and were accomplished hunter of large game. Despite their apparent adaptability, they disappeared from Europe about 40,000 years ago.
Neanderthals may or may not be directly involved in the ancestry of modern humans. Taxonomy classifies them Homo sapiens neanderthalensis.
Cro-magnon, Homo sapiens sapiens, traced back 35,000 years. Being hunters, they were partly responsible for loss of giant sloth, mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and the giant ox (the Pleistocene overkill). They exhibited signs of culture, and we are believed to be their descendants.
Evolving Through Intelligence
About 10,000 years ago social structures and cities existed, and great civilizations were in existence 5,000 years ago. Humans are the first known examples of cognitive intelligence on our planet.
There is no evidence suggesting that intelligence, or it's applied technologies, is an evolutionarily successful path to tread. The good news is that man has trillions of years to figure it out.
