Human Evolution

Human Evolution 

ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF MAN

   Human beings belong to order primata (primates), suborder anthropoidea (anthropods) and family hominidae. They resemble apes, viz, Gibbon, Orangutan, Chimpanzee and Gorilla. The term hominid is for humans and their immediate ancestors. Apes, humans and their common ancestors are known hominoids. The term anthropoid apes is used for common ancestors of humans, apes and simians One of such ancestor is Ramapithecus of oligocene.

Context

• Origin and evolution of man
• Human Ancestry 
• (Dryopithecus) 
• (Ramapithecus) 
• (Australopithecus) 

Primates. They are the most intelligent placental mammals which have large convoluted cerebrum, opposable first digit, freely movable shoulder joint, presence of nails, forward stereoscopic 3D eyes and single pair of teats in females.

Apes. They are tail-less primates with semi-erect posture, longer fore limbs used for jumping or swinging movements on trees, i.e., brachiation, walking on outer edges of feet and knuckles, large sized brain with convolutions.

Human Ancestry 

  Human ancestry can be traced to Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus which lived on earth about 15 million years ago. They were hairy and walked like Gorilla and Chimpanzee. Dryopithecus was more like ape while Ramapithecus was more like man. It is believed that most of human evolution occurred in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania) though remains of human ancestors have also been found in other parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. Fossil bones with hominids features have indicated over that the man- like primates roamed at eastern Africa 3-4 mya. They were hardly 4 feet tall but walked upright.

1. Dryopithecus (Proconsul). It lived 15-26 million years ago in Asia, Africa and Europe

Dryopithecus is common ancestor of apes and humans. It is also called pre-man. Fossils of Dryopithecus have been found from France (Lartlet, 1856), Kenya (Leakey, 1930), India (H.P.) and other places. 

Most well studied species is D. africanus. It had a size of Rhesus Monkey and walked semi-erect knuckles. Snout was slightly projecting. Jaws and dentition were like those of apes. Brow ridges were absent. Fore limbs and hind limbs were of the same size. Hands and skull were monkey-like but fore head was human-like.

2. Ramapithecus (Kenyapithecus). It is first man-like creature which was discovered from Shivalik hills (Lewis, 1930), Africa as well as Europe. It lived between 8-15 million years ago. Ramapithecus walked on its legs. It is also called subman. Height was not more than 4 feet. Snout was prognathous with projecting jaws. Dentition indicates that it ate nuts, seeds and grasses. Martin (1985) believes that Ramapithecus is an ape closely related to Orangutan.

3. Australopithecus. It is named variously as Southern Ape, first Man-Ape and Near-Man.Australopithecus lived 2 my a (between 1 4 million years ago) in grasslands of East Africa. The height was about 4 feet or 120 cm. It could walk and run on legs but knees were kept in bent position. The head resembled apes but rest of the body was man-like. Fossil of a child, called Taung Baby, was discovered by Dart (1924) from a cave in South Africa. The species is known as A. africanus. Face was prognathous with prominent brow ridge but no chin. Dentition was man-like but the teeth were larger.

Nutrition was omnivorous as Australopithecus hunted with stone weapons and probably bones as well.

However, diet was more of fruits. Cranial capacity was 400-600 cm. Australopithecus anamensis (%=A. ramidus) is considered to be connecting missing link between hominids and apes (White et al, 1994). Australopithecines are of two types, smaller gracile type (e.g., A. africanus) and larger robust type with heavy jaws (e.g. A. robustus). A 3.2 million old skeleton of female Australopithecus afarensis was discovered by Donald Johanson (1981). It has been named Lucy.

4. Homo Habilus.  It was discovered by Leakey (1962) from Tanzania. Homo habilus lived on earth 20 - 2.5 million years ago. Homo habilus was the first early true man who had a height of about 150 cm, weight of 40-50 kg and cranial capacity of 650-800 cm. Face was slightly prognathous but dentition was more human-like with lower jaw lightly built. Brow ridges were present. Homo habilus is also known as tool-maker, able man and pleistocene man. It used chipped stone tools and also sought shelters against rain, wind and wild animals. Ceriain workers believe Homo habilus to be herbivorous while others consider it to be omnivorous who would hunt small animals and scavenge large carcases.

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