Denisovans are an extinct hominin species closely related to Neanderthals. They are known from ancient DNA analysis of a finger bone and a tooth found in the Denisova Cave in Siberia. These discoveries have provided valuable insights into human evolution. Denisovans interbred with both Neanderthals and early modern humans, and traces of their DNA can … Read more
Paranthropus aethiopicus is an extinct hominid species that lived approximately 2.7 million years ago. It is one of the early hominids in the human evolutionary tree. P. aethiopicus is known for its robust cranial structure and is sometimes referred to as a “robust australopithecine.” One of the most famous fossils attributed to this species is … Read more
Paranthropus boisei is an extinct hominin species that lived approximately 2.3 to 1.2 million years ago. It is known for its robust skull and jaw structure, indicating a diet that primarily consisted of tough, fibrous vegetation. P. boisei is often referred to as “Nutcracker Man” due to its powerful chewing apparatus. This species is one … Read more
Orrorin tugenensis is an early hominin species that lived approximately 6 million years ago in what is now Kenya. It is significant in the field of paleoanthropology because it is considered one of the earliest known hominins, potentially a direct ancestor of modern humans. Orrorin tugenensis is known from a few fragmentary fossils, primarily teeth … Read more
Kenyanthropus platyops is an extinct hominin species that lived approximately 3.5 million years ago in what is now Kenya. It is known from a few fossil specimens, including a nearly complete skull. Kenyanthropus platyops is significant in the study of human evolution because its flat face and small teeth differ from other hominin species of … Read more
Homo rudolfensis is an extinct hominin species that lived approximately 1.9 million years ago in East Africa. It is known from fossil remains discovered near Lake Turkana in Kenya. Homo rudolfensis is considered one of the early hominins and is characterized by a relatively large brain size and distinct facial features. However, its exact taxonomic … Read more
Homo naledi is an extinct species of hominin (a group that includes modern humans and their ancestors). It was first discovered in the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa in 2013 and described in 2015. The fossils of Homo naledi are estimated to be around 236,000 to 335,000 years old. Homo naledi is an … Read more
Homo heidelbergensis is an extinct hominin species that lived approximately 600,000 to 200,000 years ago. It’s believed to be a common ancestor to both Neanderthals and modern humans. These early humans had a larger braincase and more advanced tools than earlier hominin species. Fossils of Homo heidelbergensis have been found in Africa, Europe, and possibly … Read more
Homo habilis is an extinct species of early human that lived approximately 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago during the Pleistocene epoch. They are considered one of the earliest members of the Homo genus and are known for their tool-making abilities, which is reflected in their name “Homo habilis,” meaning “handy man.” These early humans … Read more
Homo floresiensis, often referred to as the “Hobbit,” is an extinct species of hominin that lived on the Indonesian island of Flores. They are known for their small stature, with an average height of about 3.5 feet (1.1 meters), and a relatively small brain size. The remains of Homo floresiensis were discovered in Liang Bua … Read more