Hominids

Ardipithecus ramidus

4 BCE

Neurological Capabilities:
skull exhibits a small endocranial (inside surface of the skull) capacity, small cranial size relative to body size. Little aggression between males and between groups. Vert smart (Human-Like) Biological Capabilites:
Ardipithecus ramidus had a grasping big toe adapted for Climing in trees. Ramiduses feet are better suited for walking, and may have inhabited an environment of woodland and grasslands with lakes and swamps.

Australopithecus anamensis

2 BCE

Biological Capabilities:
The Australopithecus anamensis tibia indicates bipedalism. (Bipedalism is where an organism moves by means of its two rear limbs or legs)
Australopithecus anamensis is the first species to walk upright. Neurological Capabilities:
Had a relatively small brain but more fossil material of the cranium (the skull) is needed before brain size can be estimated. Had a small brain but large thinking capability.

Australopithecus afarensis.

1 BCE

Biological Capabilities:
Australopithecus afarensis had a flat nose, a strongly projecting lower jaw, long, strong arms with curved fingers Neurological Capabilities:
brain was small, comprised about 1.3% of their body weight. Many cranial features were ape-like, including a low, sloping forehead, a projecting face, and outstanding brow ridges above the eyes. Males had a bony ridge on top of their skull for the attachment of enormous jaw muscles as you see in the picture.

Australopithecus aethiopicus.

1 BCE

Biological Capabilities:
has a strongly protruding face, large teeth, a powerful jaw, and a well-developed crest on top of skull, indicating huge chewing muscles. Neurological Capabilities:
Brain was relatively small. The face was relatively deep with flaring cheekbones. Had a projecting face than the other species in this genus, which had shorter, flatter faces.

Australopithecus robustus

1 CE

Biological Capabilities:
large ridges of bone running along the top of their skulls which indicate powerful chewing muscles used for grinding tough foods. Neurological Capabilities:
The front teeth of A. robustus are large. Robustus had 15% average increase in brain size over africanus.

Australopithecus africanus

1 CE

Biological Capabilities:
legs and foot bones indicate that this species had the ability to walk on two legs. they also indicate some ape-like features including slightly curved finger and toe bones and arms that were quite long Neurological Capabilities:
First of an early ape-form species to be classified as hominin.
Brain size may also have been large. The brain was small but still relatively large when compared with a modern chimpanzee’s brain.