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THE CHANGING TREES OF HUMAN EVOLUTION. © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS. 1960 Up the ladder. The idea that one species smoothly evolves from one into another is regarded today as an oversimplification Unfortunately it is a very persistent view that continually resurfaces in cartoons.
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THE CHANGING TREES OF HUMAN EVOLUTION © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
1960 Up the ladder • The idea that one species smoothly evolves from one into another is regarded today as an oversimplification • Unfortunately it is a very persistent view that continually resurfaces in cartoons Public Domain Images © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Homo sapiens Homo erectus Australopithecus Up the ladder © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
A. boisei Homo sapiens Homo erectus A. robustus Homo habilis Australopithecus africanus Australopithecus afarensis “Lucy” Added 1974 1970 Branching out • The 1960s and 1970s were a fertile period for fossil hunting in Africa • The idea developed that more than one hominid species existed at the same time developed © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Homo sapiens Homo erectus A. boisei Homo habilis A. robustus A. africanus Australopithecus afarensis 1991 Changing status As more specimens were found a clearer idea developed of the relationships between them © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Homo sapiens Homo neanderthalensis Homo erectus H. heidelbergensis 1 Ma Paranthropus boisei P. robustus H. ergaster 2 Ma ? Homo rudolfensis Homo habilis A. africanus ? P. aethiopicus A. garhi 3 Ma ? ? Australopithecus afarensis 4 Ma Australopithecus anemensis ? ? Ardipithecus ramidus 2001 From a tree to a bush © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Gorilla gorilla Pan trogolodites Homo sapiens Homo neanderthalensis Homo erectus H. heidelbergensis 1 Ma Paranthropus robustus H. ergaster Paranthropus. boisei ? Homo habilis 2 Ma Homo rudolfensis A. africanus P. aethiopicus A. garhi ? 3 Ma Australopithecus afarensis ? 4 Ma Australopithecus anemensis Ardipithecus ramidus ? ? 5 Ma ? 6 Ma Orrorin tugensis ? ? Sahelanthropus tchadensis “Toumai” 7 Ma 2003 DEEPER ROOTS © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
How many more? • An estimated number of 16 hominid species is thought to have existed • This is based on the evolutionary patterns of other primates • Our family tree is similar to other species • Periods of radiation • Separated by periods of extinction © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS