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Period: to
Evolution
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Primates
The first primates evolved around the same time that the dinosaurs died out. They eventually developed opposable thumbs, very useful for living in trees. -
Darwinius
The newly publicized Darwinius was a transitional form between the prosimians (lemurs & tarsiers) and simians (monkeys & apes). By this point, primates had evolved forward-facing eyes. -
Aegyptopithicus
Around this time, new world (South American) monkeys and old world (African) monkeys started evolving in different directions. Aegyptopithicus is one the earliest known old world monkeys -
Proconsul
Some old world monkeys eventually evolved ape-like qualities such as stronger shoulders, larger brains, better vision, and the lack of a tail. Proconsul is one of the earliest known ape-like primates. -
Pierolapithecus
The recently publicized Pierolapithecus might be the common ancestor of all great apes. The great apes are all larger, stronger, more intelligent, and more social than other primates. -
Sahelanthropus Ttchadensis
Sahelanthropus, nicknamed "Toumai", may represent the last ancestor common ancestor between chimpanzees and humans. At this point, the layrnx evolved, which would eventually allow for more complex speech. -
Australopithicus Afarensis
It is believed that the jungle started to get cooler and dryer around this time and that this forced some apes to spend more time on the ground, eventually leading to bipedalism. One of the first species to walk on two feet was Australopithecus Afarensis (nicknamed "Lucy"). -
Homo Habilis
The earliest human species, homo habilis had larger brains than its predecessors, ate more meat, and started using the first stone tools -
Homo Ergaster
Homo Ergaster had shorter arms (like modern humans), less body hair and the ability to use fire. They lived entirely on the ground and developed greater cooperation between males and females. Humans also left Africa for the first time during this period. -
Homo Heidelbergensis
Homo Heidelbergensis had a larger brain and used more advanced tools. He is also the ancestor of the Neanderthals -- the last major human species to co-exist with homo sapiens. -
Homo Sapiens
The first biologically modern Homo Sapiens evolved around 100,000 years ago in Africa. However, it was until about 50,000 years ago that they developed modern behaviours such as jewelry-making, wall painting, musical instruments, funeral customs, religion, long-distance trade, fishing, advanced language and abstract thought.
