8 Extinct Human Species From the first hominin species suspected of
advanced thought to one of the best known prehistoric humans, here are 8 extinct human
species: Number 8 Homo Naledi
In 2013, about 1,500 fossil specimens of this extinct human species were found in the Rising
Star cave complex, about 31 miles northwest of Johannesburg, in South Africa. They were
the remains of Homo naledi males and females, of different ages. The fossils were subsequently
dated to about 250,000 years ago, placing them in the same time frame as the emergence
of anatomically modern humans. Homo naledi shared some features with other members of
the Homo genus, including cheek teeth and similar jaws and feet. Yet, other physical
features such as the femur, pelvis or the size of the brain were more similar to those
of Australopithecus, a hominin species that went extinct roughly 2 million years ago.
Nevertheless, discovering such a large collection of remains deep inside the cave system challenged
some previous beliefs about human evolution. It might be possible that ritualistic thought
emerged earlier than the assumed period of 50,000 years ago. “Ritual” in this instance
has no religious implications and is defined as an intentional and repeated practice. The
manner in which the bodies were disposed of indicates that Homo naledi was capable of
this behavior. Number 7 Homo Floriensis
The remains of this hominin species were found on an Indonesian island called Flores. The
hominin order includes creatures that are closer to humans than chimpanzees or earlier
creatures, such as Australopithecus. The find on Flores Island consisted of partial skeletons
from nine individuals, including a complete skull. Based on the shape of the skull, the
remains were included in the Homo genus. However, the origins of Homo floriensis remain a mystery
and the subject of an ongoing debate. Some evidence suggests it descended from modern
humans and other evidence indicates that it evolved from a different species in the Homo
genus. Genetics, certain physical attributes as well as the timeframe of their existence
seemingly support the latter. However, there were also stone tools found with the skeletal
remains that bore a striking resemblance to those used by Homo sapiens. Researchers were
astounded by how long Homo floriensis managed to survive on the island, as the fossils were
dated 190,000 to 50,000 ago. Quiz Question
Before we move on, answer this question. What’s a common nickname for Homo floriensis in the
scientific community? Is it: The Hobbit
The Giant The Islander
The Missing Link Let us know what you think in the comment
section below and stay tuned to find out the right answer.
Number 6 Homo Rudolfensis The oldest Homo rudolfensis’ remains, which
are dated to about 2.4 million years ago, represent the oldest fossil evidence of the
border between Homo and Australopithecus. It basically reflects the link between archaic
humans, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, and their more primitive ancestors. Homo Rudolfensis
is only known from a handful of fossils found in Africa so it’s hard to classify them
as a species. That being said, there have been proponents in the scientific community
that it should be considered as part of Homo habilis.
Number 5 Homo Habilis This extinct human species is believed to
have been the first to emerge in the Homo genus. In 1964 the name “Homo habilis”
was proposed, which means “handy man”. It’s believed that this archaic human was
the first to use flaked stone tools. They were more advanced than any of the tools previously
used, and were mainly applied for skinning and butchering animals. Homo habilis was short,
on average 4’3”, and its arms were disproportionately longer when compared to modern humans. Its
brain size was between 34 and 42 cubic inches, about 50% larger than that of its more ape-like
predecessors. Although more advanced, Homo habilis was not the master hunter that its
descendants would prove to be. It was frequently preyed on by a sabre-toothed cat called Dinofelis,
which was about the size of a present-day jaguar.
Number 4 Homo Erectus Homo erectus is regarded as a possible direct
ancestor of Homo sapiens. Its earliest fossil evidence, which was discovered at a site in
Dmanisi Georgia, dates to about 1.8 million years ago. It had the greatest longevity of
any extinct homini species as it existed, by some estimates, for almost 2 million years.
By comparison, Homo sapiens have been around for roughly 250,000 years. Homo erectus, or
the “the upright man” marked an important transition in posture to bipedalism. From
an evolutionary perspective, it separated from its ancestors, in east Africa, about
3 million years ago. Homo erectus had a greater brain capacity than Homo habilis and it stood
at an average of 5’10”. They were very slender, with long arms and legs. Aside from
posture, another remarkable milestone achieved by Homo erectus was controlling fire. There’s
archaeological evidence that indicates they cooked their food. They also exhibited a form
of religious behavior and were most likely the first hominins to live in a hunter-gatherer
society. Number 3 Homo Heidelbergensis
Homo heidelbergensis is an extinct archaic human named after Heidelberg, Germany, the
town where the first fossils where discovered. A mandible was found in 1907. It was subsequently
determined that its skull shared features both with Homo erectus and Homo sapiens, leading
many to believe it to be an intermediate species. Based on the archaeological evidence from
Africa and Europe, Homo heidelbergensis was responsible for a number of firsts with humans.
They were right-handed, which is typically associated with the development of language
in hominins. The fact that they didn’t have air sacs is believed to have been an important
trait for the evolution of vocal language. Homo heidelbergensis had a larger build, which
enabled it to adapt to cooler temperatures. It created spears and other tools out of wood
and was also the first branch of the Homo genus to build permanent shelters. It’s
sometimes referred to as the last common ancestor of modern humans and Neanderthals.
Number 2 Homo Denisova A DNA analysis of Denisovans indicates that
they were genetically different from both Neanderthals and modern humans. Not much is
known about their anatomy as the only remains discovered so far are a toe bone, a finger
bone and two teeth. It’s believed that they were extremely robust, perhaps similar to
Neanderthals in build and that, like them, they interbred with Homo sapiens. This was
discovered through a DNA analysis of the toe bone. It’s possible that Denisovans, Neanderthals
and related hybrids dwelt in the Denisova Cave, in Siberia for thousands of years. However,
it isn’t clear if they ever cohabitated. Quiz Answer
So what’s a common nickname for Homo floriensis? If you guessed a, the hobbit, then you’re
right. Homo floriensis was very short and only stood at about 3’6”. This was a considerable
difference, even when compared to some pygmy modern human populations. It’s one of the
reasons why it was proposed as a species distinct from Homo sapiens. Homo floriensis became
widely known as “the hobbit” in the scientific community. There were even some legal issues
concerning a New Zealand professor trying to use the name in a public lecture and the
Tolkien Foundation. The legal body manages the property of J. R. R. Tolkien, the writer
who authored “The Hobbit”, and they told the professor he couldn’t use the name.
Number 1 Homo Neanderthalensis Homo Neanderthalensis, commonly known as the
Neanderthal, inhabited Eurasia from 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. They were eventually
assimilated or replaced by Homo sapiens. There’s been growing evidence that anatomically modern
humans, or Homo sapiens, and Neanderthals interbred. This most likely happened after
the former migrated out of Africa, about 70,000 years ago. This is reflected in the genome
of certain populations. The earliest known modern human in Europe was found in a cave
in Romania and it had craniofacial features similar both to Neanderthals and modern humans.
Because Neanderthals lived in a land abundant in limestone caves, they became colloquially
known as “cavemen”. They had shorter legs, bigger bodies and were typically stockier
than modern humans. This was, most likely, an adaptation for surviving the colder climate.
They were comparable in height but much stronger than modern humans. They also had a lower
jaw, large orbital and nasal openings, large, low-vaulted skulls and prominent arched brow
ridges. Evidence suggests they owned a similar speech range to that of modern humans, although
the patterns for communication are unknown. Neanderthals created stone tools, both for
hunting and for domestic uses. They decorated caves and objects with designs, natural pigments
as well as feathers or shells. The discovery of a flute-like instrument at a site in Slovenia
may suggest that they also made music, although this has been contested. It’s also believed
that they took care of the injured members of their social group and buried their dead.
The discovery of numerous fossils and the completion of its nuclear genetic sequence
make the Neanderthal the best known archaic human so far.
Thanks for watching! Do you know other extinct human species? Tell us about them in the comment
section below!