1. AUSTRALOPETHICUS AFARENSIS
Most famous specimen: Lucy
Habitat: Eastern Africa
Essentially this species is an ape that walked upright like a human. This was due to the pelvis being formed differently than other apes. All subsequent genus homo walked upright.
2. HOMO HABILIS
Nickname: Handyman
Habitat: Eastern and Southern Africa
This species is the oldest to be placed in the genus HOMO, of which man is also included. He is identified as genus HOMO because of his toolmaking skills -- he made stone tools, which the Australopithecines that came before him did not. This is indicative of a higher intelligence, most likely due to the larger brain size than Australopithicus. It was also due to a much more developed hand that could apply better precision. In addition, he had a more human like foot, and smaller teeth (could he have been eating cooked food?). He was between 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet tall. His face was somewhat like that of an ape, what they call moderately prognathic. His arms were longer than human arms, similar to how ape arms are longer. In other words although he was smarter and made stone tools and walked upright, he still looked mostly (though not completely) apelike. I MY OPINION this species is truly between ape and man.
3. HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS
Nickname: Working Man
Habitat: Eastern, Southern Africa
Homo Ergaster looked much more human, having lost the pronounced bony ridge under the eyebrows, but it still had a somewhat protrusive face and lower forehead, although these features were becoming less pronounced. Males and females were starting to look much more similar. Teeth were continuing to get smaller, although they were still significantly larger than modern humans. Homo Ergaster used a wider variety and more sophisticated array of tools than Homo Habilis.
4. HOMO ERECTUS
Nickname: Upgright Man
Habitat: Eastern & Southern Africa, Western & Eastern Asia
So close to Homo Ergaster that some believe them to be the same species. Definitely used fire. Could run long distances. Had lost tree climbing abilities. Invented the first hand axes. Matured very quickly, as apes do. Was the first of Genus Homo to migrate out of Africa. Although his brain was smaller than that of modern humans, it was large compared to the relative size of the rest of the skull. The facial features were still inbetween ape and human, though getting much closer to human: there was still the brow ridge, less protrusion, smaller teeth, less marked cheek bones...
5. HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS
Habitat: South Africa
Although many of Homo Heidelbergensis were of human height, there were whole populations that were over 7 feet tall! The transition from Homo Ergaster/Erectus to Homo Heidelbergensis to Homo Sapiens (modern humans) is so gradual that there are fossils that are hard to group. This species finally had the round curve of teeth typical of humans. Although the face continues to be more human, one thing continue to be missing: the chin. These were the first of Genus Homo to bury their dead. The physical development of the throat indicates a pre-linguistic form of communication, using a combination of vowels and consonants. While there is no art, the presence of red ochre is significant, possibly indicating body painting. They made the first spears for hunting.
6. HOMO SAPIENS
Nickname: Modern Man
Habitat: Worldwide
