Hominid Evolution Essay

Introduction to Hominid Evolution

Hominid evolution is the theory of the origins of the human species (Homo sapiens).

Current understanding of human origins is obtained largely from the findings of paleontology,

anthropology, and genetics. Of all primates, humans share particularly close affinity to other

members of a group known as hominoids, or apes. Humans and their immediate ancestors,

known as hominids, are notable among hominoids for their bipedal locomotion (Using two legs

for walking), slow rate of maturation, large brain size, and, at least among the more recent

hominids, the development of a relatively sophisticated capacity for language, tool use, and

Sahelanthropus tchadensis one of the oldest known species in the hominid evolution
The Australopithecus garhi fossils are distinctive from

those of Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus, although the skull cranial

capacity is similar. The premolars and the molars are larger than other australopithecine, similar

to Paranthropus boisei. Few primitive shaped stone tool artifacts closely resembling Oldwan

technology were discovered with the Australopithecus garhi fossils, dating back roughly 2.6 and

Australopithecus boisei/Paranthropus Boisei

The relatively small brain size of 550 cm3 is similar to that of Australopithecus afarensis and

Australopithecus africanus. Males were larger than females, as with all australopithecine species,

standing 1.37 and 1.24 meters tall respectively. The skull was designed for heavy chewing of

ground tubers, nuts and seeds. Paranthropus boisei inhabited savannah and woodland

environments. The cranium of Paranthropus boisei was first discovered in Tanzania in 1959. The

fossil was dated to 1.75 million years old. 11

In its appearance, Homo habilis is the least similar to modern humans of all species in the genus.

Homo habilis was short and had disproportionately long arms compared with modern