Biological Evolution of Hominins

Biological evolution is the result of natural selection acting upon whole populations over
many generations. Biological evolution relies on mutations as a source of new
characteristics and involves much longer time periods.
A summary, highlighting some of the key changes throughout human evolution has been
provided below.

Pan troglodytes (chimpanzee)

•Cranial capacity 320-480cc
•Quadrupedal / Brachiators
•Prognathism -jaw protrudes from face, Large jaw / teeth
•Barrel shaped rib cage / c-curved spine typical of quadrupedal lifestyle
•Distribution: Central - Western Africa.
•Chimps are not our direct ancestors, but may resemble some of our earliest ancestors
who had a similar lifestyle.

Australopithicines
•Cranial capacity 400-500cc
•africanus slightly larger than afarensis
•Apelike Face; low forehead & brow ridge (slightly reduced in africanus)
•The Canines are smaller than chimps but still much larger than in modern humans
•Pelvis and leg bones confirm bipedalism
•Distribution: East Africa (Rift Valley) - South Africa

Paranthropus group
•Cranial capacity 530cc
•Extinct offshoot of the Australopithecines
•Very robust skull with feature associated with a diet of tough fibrous / leafy material
•Heavy brow ridge, zygomatic arches, large mandible (lower jaw) and sagittal crest
•Distribution: South-East Africa

H. habilis
•Cranial capacity 650-680cc
•First to use tools (Oldowan)
•Marked increase in cranial capacity
•Bulge in Broca’s area (speech production)
•Smaller narrower face with reduced jaw
•Modern U-shaped jaw with narrower molars
•Distribution: Rift Valley, East Africa

H. erectus
•Cranial capacity 750 -1225cc
•First to use fire and Acheulian tools
•Marked increase in cranial capacity with a large difference between earlier erectus and
later ones.
•Development of Broca’s and Wernike’s areas of the brain possibly associated with
rudimentary communication
•Flat face with pronounced bow ridge
•Distribution: Africa (H. ergaster), Asia & Europe (H. erectus)

H. neanderthalensis
•Cranial capacity 1600c
•Larger brain than even H. sapiens but organized differently
•Large occipital lobe / bun
•Skull widest at base
•Used more advances Mousterian flint tools
•Further reduced teeth
•Sloping forehead
•Distribution: Europe and West Asia

H. sapiens
•Cranial capacity 1400cc
•Large brain with larger frontal lobes / cerebral cortex.
•Skull is widest further up / higher
•High vertical forehead
•Further reduced teeth
•No muzzle (prognathism)
•Distribution: Global