Hominids - Ancient Human Species

First hominin to leave Africa, reaching Georgia, Java, and possibly Korea

Probably the most famous ancient human, this population contributes to the genome of every living non-African human, and was much smarter and more creative than usually depicted.

The oldest member of the genus Homo, existing 2.4 million -1.65 million mya

The first humans to reach Western Europe, with specimins found in Spain

This near-modern subspecies contributes 5% of the human genome of modern Melanesians, and 0.2% of East Asians

This recently discovered pygmy species persisted in the Philippines until 50 kya

This is the most robust genus of humans, sporting thick skulls with large sagital crests, capable of producing enormous bite force.

Probable missing-link between Homo erectus and modern humans, found in Europe and Africa

Lucy, the most famous hominin fossil is a member of this widespread species which had human-like legs but chimpanzee-like arms, adapted to hanging in trees.

The producers of the first ever stone tools coexisted with Australopithecines, and have been found only in the Lomekwi site in Kenya.

These "hobbits" lived on an Indonesian island until possibly 12,000 ya

Either a subspecies of Homo erectus or its ancestor, this long-limbed species never left Africa

This genus is the oldest one widely agreed to be more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees

The oldest discovered biped, probably the earliest offshoot from our common ancestor with Chimpanzees. Up to 7 million years old.

Small brained Homo species found in South Africa from only 335 kya... astonishing scientists with their tiny brains so late in evolutionary history!

The Taung child, the first early human fossil ever found is considered to be a member of this species. It is probably not an ancestor of Homo, but instead of Paranthropus