The evolution of humans can be easily seen through their Latin translations; Hominins (man), Homo Habilis (able/handy man), Homo erectus (standing man), Homo neanderthalensis and Homo Sapien (wise man). Over millions of years these creatures changed and developed. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution explains how we got to be the modern humans we are today.
Written by Miss Ashley
Theory of evolution
Charles Darwin’s ‘theory of evolution’ was made famous in 1859 when he published his book called ‘The Origin of Species’. In this book, he talked about the idea that all living things originated from one common ancestor and evolved over millions and millions of years. He also introduced the idea of ‘natural selection’. Natural selection means that animals/organisms with desirable traits (E.g. things about them that helped them to survive, like their size, camouflage, long neck, etc) would survive and pass their traits onto their children. The ones with undesirable traits (e.g. too small, too slow, couldn’t hide, couldn’t fight back) were eaten and their traits were not passed on. His ideas were accepted by scientists around the world as he had been studying different species around the world for decades.
Written by Miss Ashley
First land organisms
The first organisms to venture onto land (apart from plants) was around 30 million years Ago. A fish called coelacanth was one of the first to venture onto land - into a shallow marine environment. Scientists think it was either looking for food, avoiding predators or laying eggs in the shallow waters. It had to develop a stronger rib cage in order to support its body weight out of water (as in water all things are more buoyant). Over time, they also evolved lungs so they could breathe, and their fins became more boney and became strong legs which helped them move. Years after the first amphibian-like animals came along the first one had fins and years after it had half fins and legs after a lot more years it has all legs.
Written by Eh Htoo Wah, supported by Miss Ashley
Hominins
Hominins are the earliest version of a human that we know of. For about 6 to 5 million years ago hominids/ancestors have been known to live on planet earth located in Africa. They were around 130cm tall and weighed about 35kg. Hominins used to draw things in caves. They eat hard items or food such as seeds and nuts. Hominins are closely related to humans or homosapin. And the first hominins that step foot on Africa or New Zealand 3 million years ago. And the olds hominins live for 5.8 million year. They were bipedal. They had grasp too. And they have family. Hominins evolved and turned into a human.
Written by Mariah/Railey
Homo Habilis
Homo Habilis lived 2 million years ago. The person the first discovered homo habilis was Mark Leakly. Homo Habilis were flexible and versatile. They were also to eat tough food like leaves and woody plants and they also eat meat by scavenging from animal carcasses. Homo Habilis were the first kind of human to make/use tools. Their family is Hominidae and live in small groups. Homo Habilis inhabited parts of Sub Saharan Africa from roughly 2.4 to 1.5 million years ago. They also have several teeth in the lower jaw and have bipedal with no grasping feet; limiting them to a life on the ground. They are the most ancient representative of the human genus and their brain ranged in size from 550 cm cubed to 687 cm cubed. The tools made by Homo Habilis were made from volcanic rock cobbles.
Written by Hope
Homo erectus
Homo erectus had Larger brains then the homohabilis. They were the first to leave Africa around 1.5 million years ago, then the homo erectus went into Europe/Asia. Their hands used to look like a foot but then it changed into a hand, then they had Dexterous Fingers which means they can use them. Homo erectus is a Bipedal which means they stand on two long legs. By 800,000 years ago, they used fire to cook food. Homo erectus ate meat and crisp root vegetables, they ate small animals and ate animals many times larger than their own body size, such as elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and giraffes, whereas chimpanzees. Homo erectus is an extinct species of archaic humans from the pleistocene. Homo erectus Height is 1.4 to 1.8m. Their brain size is 550-1,250 cm. They weigh about 41 kg to 65 kg. The homo erectus fossils are found in Africa, Asia and perhaps Europe. Their appearance is human-like body proportions and upright stance, a protruding brow ridge, large face and no chin.
Written by Michael and Davlyn
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo neanderthalensis lived in southern Europe and Asia. They are commonly called Neanderthals, named after a region in Germany where fossils were found. They existed around 1,000,000 years ago and are often depicted hunting ice age animals such as mammoths. Their height was around 1.7m. Neanderthals lived alongside early modern humans for at least part of their existence. They had large front teeth; scientists think they used these like a third hand when preparing food and other materials. They lived peacefully and had children with other types of humans. Homo neanderthalensis looked after their sick and buried their dead. They were mammals. Neanderthals could make their own spears and flint handaxes. They used their tools to kill large mammals and eat them. Their skulls were like the same size as homo sapiens; they had a large nose, strong brow bridge. Scientists think that their stocky bodies and wide open nostrils helped them survive colder climates.
Written by Wesley
Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens is the scientific name for modern humans. It is the only extant homo species (not extinct). Homo sapiens first migrated from Africa 70-50,000 years ago and lived in Southern Asia and Europe. Males were around 1.7m tall and females around 1.6m tall. They ate meat gathered by killing animals, plants and fungi. They lived at the same time as some Neanderthals, and lived peacefully alongside them, even interbreeding with them. Some modern humans have upto 2% Neanderthal DNA in them.
Ideas and draft by Saia, Kymani and Nitika, rewritten by Miss Ashley.
Over time, humans grew bigger and taller, travelled across continents, learnt to make and use tools/weapons, learnt to cook food, and grew bigger brains.
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