Evolution from Ape to Human

The term human in human evolution refers to genus Homo. This genus diverged from the Australopithecines about 2 million years ago in Africa. Scientists have estimated that humans deviated from their common ancestor chimpanzees about 5 to 7 million years ago. Due to the morphological and anatomical similarities between the apes and humans, scientists believed that the great apes were the closest biological relatives of human beings. Evolution of human from the ape can be explained as follows:

Sahelanthropus tchadensis was the oldest known ancestor of humans that lived nearly 7 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Djurab desert of Chad. Being a species of the Miocene epoch, its canine wear were similar to Miocene apes. The teeth, brow ridges, and facial structure of this ape differed distinctly from those found in Homo sapiens. Since there were no postcranial remains discovered, it is uncertain whether Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal or not.

Orrorin tugenensis was the second oldest known hominin ancestor which was related to humans and was the size similar to the modern chimpanzee. Its name was given by the archaeologists who found its fossils in the Tugen Hills of Kenya. This ape lived nearly 5.8 to 6.1 million years ago, during the Miocene era. It belonged to genus Orrorin and was the first bipedal hominin. It had a proximal femur, a right humerus shaft and teeth that suggested it lived on a diet similar to Paranthropoids. It mainly ate fruits, vegetables and sometimes meat.

Ardipithecus was the first ape that belonged to genus hominin and shared several traits with the African great ape. It lived about 4.4 million years ago during the early Pliocene epoch. Due to its likeness in teeth with Australopithecus, it was considered as proto-human. On the basis of its bone size and toe structure, Ardipithecus ape was believed to be the size of a modern chimpanzee and used to walk upright. It lived in shady forests rather than on the savannah (a flat grassland in the tropical and sub-tropical regions). Ardipithecus ramidus and Ardipithecus kadabba were the species of Ardipithecus and their remains had been found in the Middle Awash.

Australopithecus was a genus of extinct hominids and closely related to human genus Homo. The word Australopithecus was derived from a Latin word 'australis', which meant 'southern', and a Greek word 'pithekos' which meant 'ape'. The Australopiths shared several characteristics with modern apes and humans. They were distributed throughout eastern and northern Africa and lived about 3 to 3.9 million years ago. Their brain size was nearly 35% of the human brain size and had a height of approximately 4 to 4.5 feet. There was a considerable degree of sexual dimorphism in Australopithecus, as the males were larger than the females. According to the fossil studies, Australopithecus were omnivorous but mainly ate fruit, vegetables and tubers. Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus were the most famous species of Australopithecus.

Kenyanthropus platyops was a 3.2 to 3.5 million year old extinct hominine species from the Pliocene era. Kenyanthropus platyops meant 'Flat faced man of Kenya' and was discovered in 1999 by Justus Erus near Lake Turkana, Kenya. According to the archeologists, it had a broad flat face with a toe bone which indicated that it probably walked upright. Its teeth were of an intermediate form between that of humans and apes.

Paranthropus was a bipedal hominine that descended from the gracile australopithecine hominins. The word Paranthropus was derived from Greek words para and anthropos which meant 'beside' and 'human' respectively. Paranthropus was related with stone tools both in southern and eastern Africa and lived nearly 2.7 million years ago. It had a brain about 40% of the size of the human brain and stood nearly 4.26 to 4.59 feet tall. Paranthropus was well muscled and lived in wooded areas. Paranthropus aethiopicus, Paranthropus boisei and Paranthropus robustus were the common species of Paranthropus.

Homo is the genus which includes modern man and its close relatives. It is about 2.5 million years old and evolved with the Homo habilis species. Its appearance coincides with the evidence of stone tools and the beginning of the Lower Paleolitic Age. Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, Homo antecessor, Homo cepranensis, Homo neanderthalensis, Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo georgicus, Homo ergaster, Homo rhodesiensis, Homo sapiens and Homo floresiensis were the species from the genus homo. Except Homo sapiens, all species have become extinct. Homo neanderthalensis and Homo floresiensis who were the last surviving species, disappeared around 12,000 to 24,000 years ago respectively.

About four million years ago, man was a tribal animal. Due to human evolution, he has been able to understand his place and purpose in the universe. Evolution is vital for our survival and has made us what we are now.