Science

Human Evolutionary Tree

25rows
8columns
43views
0downloads
Updated:3/5/2026
25/25
Species
Period
Region
Brain Size (cc)
Height (cm)
Key Trait
Relation to H. sapiens
Status
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
7-6 MYACentral Africa (Chad)350Earliest known possible hominin; small canines suggest upright posturePossible ancestorExtinct
Orrorin tugenensis
6.1-5.7 MYAEast Africa (Kenya)Femur suggests bipedal locomotion; one of the oldest homininsPossible ancestorExtinct
Ardipithecus kadabba
5.8-5.2 MYAEast Africa (Ethiopia)Toe bone suggests bipedality; lived in forested environmentsPossible ancestorExtinct
Ardipithecus ramidus
4.4 MYAEast Africa (Ethiopia)350120Partially bipedal but retained tree-climbing ability; 'Ardi' skeletonPossible ancestorExtinct
Australopithecus anamensis
4.2-3.8 MYAEast Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia)370Earliest definitive australopithecine; bipedal with ape-like faceAncestorExtinct
Australopithecus afarensis
3.9-2.9 MYAEast Africa (Ethiopia, Tanzania)430107Fully bipedal; famous 'Lucy' skeleton; Laetoli footprintsLikely direct ancestorExtinct
Kenyanthropus platyops
3.5-3.2 MYAEast Africa (Kenya)Flat face distinguishes it from Australopithecus; debated classificationUncertain branchExtinct
Australopithecus africanus
3.3-2.1 MYASouthern Africa460138First australopithecine discovered ('Taung Child'); omnivorous dietPossible ancestorExtinct
Australopithecus garhi
2.5 MYAEast Africa (Ethiopia)450Found near earliest stone tools; possible link to HomoPossible ancestor to HomoExtinct
Paranthropus aethiopicus
2.7-2.3 MYAEast Africa410Massive jaw and sagittal crest for heavy chewing; 'Black Skull'Side branch (robust)Extinct
Paranthropus boisei
2.3-1.2 MYAEast Africa510137Enormous molars ('Nutcracker Man'); specialized plant dietSide branch (robust)Extinct
Paranthropus robustus
2.0-1.2 MYASouthern Africa530132Robust jaw; coexisted with early Homo; used bone toolsSide branch (robust)Extinct
Homo habilis
2.8-1.5 MYAEast & Southern Africa610130First stone toolmaker (Oldowan tools); 'Handy Man'Direct ancestorExtinct
Homo rudolfensis
2.0-1.5 MYAEast Africa (Kenya)750Larger brain and flatter face than H. habilis; debated classificationPossible direct ancestorExtinct
Homo ergaster
1.9-1.4 MYAEast & Southern Africa850180Tall, long-legged; 'Turkana Boy'; African form of early HomoDirect ancestorExtinct
Homo erectus
1.9 MYA - 110 KYAAfrica, Asia (Java, China)950170First to control fire and leave Africa; Acheulean hand axesDirect ancestorExtinct
Homo antecessor
1.2-0.8 MYAWestern Europe (Spain)1,000175Oldest known hominin in Europe; possible cannibalism evidencePossible common ancestor of sapiens & neanderthalensisExtinct
Homo heidelbergensis
700-200 KYAAfrica, Europe1,250175Wooden spears, cooperative hunting; ancestor of both sapiens and NeanderthalsCommon ancestorExtinct
Homo naledi
335-236 KYASouthern Africa (Rising Star Cave)560150Small brain but deliberate body disposal; mix of primitive and modern traitsSide branchExtinct
Homo neanderthalensis
400-40 KYAEurope, Western & Central Asia1,400165Buried dead, made art, used medicinal plants; interbred with sapiens (1-4% DNA in non-Africans)Cousin speciesExtinct
Denisovans
300-50 KYASiberia, Southeast AsiaKnown mainly from DNA; interbred with sapiens (4-6% DNA in Melanesians); high-altitude gene EPAS1Cousin speciesExtinct
Homo floresiensis
100-50 KYAIndonesia (Flores)380106Island dwarfism; 'The Hobbit'; used stone tools despite tiny brainSide branchExtinct
Homo luzonensis
67-50 KYAPhilippines (Luzon)Small-bodied island species; curved toe bones suggest tree climbingSide branchExtinct
Homo sapiens (archaic)
300-100 KYAAfrica (Morocco, Ethiopia)1,350170Jebel Irhoud fossils; modern face but elongated braincaseEarly usEvolved into modern H. sapiens
Homo sapiens (modern)
100 KYA - presentGlobal1,350170Language, symbolic art, agriculture, civilization; only surviving homininUsExtant

Free to explore · No signup needed

Loading community rankings...

Frequently asked questions

How is the Human Evolutionary Tree list ranked?

The Human Evolutionary Tree list is ranked by community votes. Every visitor can pick one option over another in head-to-head matchups, and the running totals determine the order you see. No editors or algorithms — just real people voting.

How many entries are in this Human Evolutionary Tree dataset?

This dataset contains 25 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.

Can I download the Human Evolutionary Tree data?

Yes. The download buttons at the top of the page give you the full 25-row dataset as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Use of the data is permitted under a Creative Commons Attribution license — credit dtbse.com when you republish.

Related Datasets

More in Science

Human Evolution — Complete Timeline of Hominin Species

Every known hominin species from Sahelanthropus tchadensis 7 million years ago to modern Homo sapiens. Includes brain sizes, height estimates, geographic range, tool use, and what makes each species significant in the story of human evolution. The most comprehensive hominin species list available as structured data.

24 rows5 shared tags

Famous Biology Experiments

Mendel's peas, Miller-Urey's primordial soup, Hershey-Chase blender or CRISPR - which breakthrough shaped biology the most?

16 rows2 shared tags

Types of Microscopes

Light, electron, scanning probe or fluorescence - which microscope revolutionized how we see the invisible?

16 rows2 shared tags

Famous Comets

Halley, Hale-Bopp, Shoemaker-Levy 9 or NEOWISE - which icy wanderer left the most spectacular streak across history?

17 rows1 shared tag

Map Types & Visualization Styles

Choropleth, topographic, heat map — which map visualization tells the most compelling story?

15 rows1 shared tag

Types of Black Holes

Stellar, supermassive, intermediate or primordial - which flavor of gravitational monster would you peer into?

16 rows1 shared tag

Types of Historical Clock & Timekeeping

Sundials, water clocks, atomic clocks — which timekeeping invention was the most transformative?

15 rows1 shared tag

Famous Accidental Discoveries in Science

Penicillin, X-rays, microwaves, Teflon — which accidental discovery changed the world the most?

15 rows1 shared tag

Types of Adhesive

Super Glue, epoxy, hot melt — which adhesive holds the world together best?

15 rows1 shared tag

Famous Patent Inventions

The telephone, the zipper, Velcro — which patented invention changed everyday life the most?

15 rows1 shared tag

Nobel Prize in Economics Winners

All winners of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

99 rows1 shared tag

Gemstones & Precious Stones

Popular gemstones and precious stones with their physical properties, primary sources, symbolism, and market value.

15 rows1 shared tag