i. Propliopithecus:
a. It was an ape-like primate.
b. It lived in the Oligocene epoch about 30 million years ago.
c. The fossil of first known ape was obtained from Fayum deposits of Egypt.
d. It was represented by the fossil jaw and teeth.
e. Its incisors were vertical rather than directed forward.
f. Simpson (1967) presumed that Propliopithecus might be the ancestor of modern apes and man.
ii. Dryopithecus:
a. It is also called Proconsul.
b. The fossil of this ape was discovered by L.S.B. Leakey in 1930 on an island in Lake Victoria of Africa.
c. It is ape, that lived in Miocene epoch about 20-25 million years ago.
d. It exhibits close similarity to chimpanzee.
e. Its legs and heels indicate that it must have assumed a semi-erect posture.
iii. Ramapithecus:
a. It was an ape-man like primate.
b. The teeth and jaw bones of Ramapithecus were found in the rocks of Siwalik Hills in India by G.E. Lewis (1930).
c. It lived during late Miocene and early Pliocene epoch about 14 to 12 million years ago.
d. Fossils of similar features were discovered from Kenya in Africa called Kenyapithecus.
e. They walked erect on their hind limbs.
f. On the basis of these features, some scientists believe that Dryopithecus evolved into Ramapithecus which is on direct line of human evolution.
iv. Homo habilis:
a. The fossils of this primitive man were discovered from the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania (Africa) by Leakey (1964).
b. One of the first known hominids, it was nicknamed ‘handy man’ Homo habilis evolved in Africa in late Pliocene or early Pleistocene epoch about 2.5 to 1.4 million years ago.
c. It lived in open grassy land, moved erect and was omnivorous.
d. The lower jaw was lightly built and the dentition was more like that of modern man.
e. It had smaller molars and made tools from stones.
f. Its cranial capacity was about 650 to 800 c.c. It was called handy man or tool maker.
v. Homo erectus:
Homo erectus was the first true man. This primitive man lived in Java and Peking.
vi. Neanderthal Man (Homo neanderthalensis):
a. Its fossils were collected by J.K. Fuhlort (1856) from Neanderthal valley, Germany.
b. They existed in late Pleistocene epoch about 1,50,000 years ago and were widespread in Europe, Asia and North America.
c. They became extinct about 25,000 years ago.
d. Its cranial capacity was 1450 c.c.
e. It lived in caves and so it was called ‘Cave man’.
f. It used fire first for cooking food.
g. These were heavily built and short.
h. They had prominent brow ridges, the skull bones were thick, forehead was low and slanting, the jaw were deep than that of modern man with no chin.
i. They were quite intelligent to use and construct flint tools.
j. They buried their dead bodies along with their tools and was supposed to perform ceremonies.
vii. Cromagnon Man (Homo sapiens fossilis):
a. It is the closest ancestor of modern man.
b. It lived in France and Spain.
c. The fossils of Cro-magnon man were found from the Cro-magnon rocks of France.
d. He originated nearly 50,000 years ago.
e. It was an omnivore having the aesthetic sense.
f. The Cro-magnons were about 180 cm in height with large skull, rounded forehead, distinct chin, narrow nose, eyebrow ridges, thin and broad face.
g. The cranial capacity was about 1600 c.c.
h. They lived in caves with families.
i. They were expert in hunting and painting. They made tools and weapons such as spear-heads, bows and arrows.
j. They made ornaments from ivory and decorated their bodies.
k. They use hides of animals to protect their body and buried their dead according to their customs.
viii. Modern Man (Homo sapiens sapiens)
a It includes all the human beings existing today on the earth.
b. He has intelligence. Cranial capacity is 1450 cc.
c. He made clothes. He developed language to communicate.
d. He lives a social life. He started with agriculture and domestication of animals.
e. A complex symbolic culture permits modern civilization to direct the course of hominid evolution through the manipulation of environment, the control of reproduction, etc.
