Science

Human Evolutionary Tree

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Updated:3/5/2026
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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

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