-797x638.jpg "Homo erectus")
Homo erectus
202188202188Homo erectus (†Homo erectus (Dubois, 1893))
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Dimensions: height - 140-170 сm, weight - 40-50 kg
Temporal range: Pleistocene ( 2–0.1 million years ago)
Homo erectus is an extinct species of archaic human from the Pleistocene, spanning nearly 2 million years. It is the first human species to evolve a humanlike body plan and gait, to leave Africa and colonize Asia and Europe, and to wield fire. Some populations of H. erectus were ancestors of later human species, including H. heidelbergensis—the last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. As such a widely distributed species both geographically and temporally, H. erectus anatomy varies considerably. Subspecies are sometimes recognized: H. e. erectus, H. e. pekinensis, H. e. soloensis, H. e. ergaster, H. e. georgicus, and H. e. tautavelensis.
The typical skull has a pronounced brow ridge, a protruding jaw, and large teeth. The bones are much thicker than in modern humans. East Asian populations normally have an even more robust skeleton and larger brain volume—averaging 1,000 cc . Western H. erectus brain volume could be as low as 546 cc in H. e. georgicus. H. erectus probably had a faster apelike growth trajectory, lacking the extended childhood required for language acquisition. Reconstructed adult body dimensions range from 141–167 cm in height and about 50 kg in weight.
H. erectus invented the Acheulean tool industry, a major innovation of large, heavy-duty stone tools. These may have been used in butchery, vegetable processing, and woodworking of spears and digging sticks. H. erectus was a major predator of large herbivores on the expanding savannas during the Quaternary glaciation. The species is usually characterized as the first hunter-gatherer and the first to practice sexual division of labor. Fire usage and cave habitation were probably not important aspects of daily life. Similarly, H. erectus may not have often ventured into colder regions or cooked meat. The last known occurrence of H. erectus is 108,000 to 117,000 years ago (H. e. soloensis) in Southeast Asia, until the last savannas in the region gave way to jungle.
H. erectus evolved in Africa from a population of H. habilis and they coexisted for about half a million years. During this time interval, H. erectus populations could display a mix of more "classically erectus" or "classically habilis" cranial anatomy and a wide range of brain volumes. The oldest identified H. erectus specimen is a 2.04 million year old skull, DNH 134, from Drimolen, South Africa, coexisting with the australopithecine Paranthropus robustus. H. erectus dispersed out of Africa soon after evolution, the earliest recorded instances being H. e. georgicus 1.78 to 1.85 million years ago in Georgia, the Indonesian Mojokerto and Sangiran sites 1.6 to 1.8 million years ago, and the Chinese Yunxian Man 1.77 million years ago. Populations may have pushed into northwestern Europe at around the same time.[38] While H. erectus is usually considered the first hominin to leave Africa, stone tools that may date to as far back as 2.48 and 2.1 million years ago (from Zarqa Valley, Jordan, and Shangchen, China, respectively) could indicate that an earlier hominin species left Africa.
-70x56.jpg "2")
Homo erectus (†Homo erectus (Dubois, 1893))
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Dimensions: height - 140-170 сm, weight - 40-50 kg
Temporal range: Pleistocene ( 2–0.1 million years ago)
Homo erectus is an extinct species of archaic human from the Pleistocene, spanning nearly 2 million years. It is the first human species to evolve a humanlike body plan and gait, to leave Africa and colonize Asia and Europe, and to wield fire. Some populations of H. erectus were ancestors of later human species, including H. heidelbergensis—the last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. As such a widely distributed species both geographically and temporally, H. erectus anatomy varies considerably. Subspecies are sometimes recognized: H. e. erectus, H. e. pekinensis, H. e. soloensis, H. e. ergaster, H. e. georgicus, and H. e. tautavelensis.
The typical skull has a pronounced brow ridge, a protruding jaw, and large teeth. The bones are much thicker than in modern humans. East Asian populations normally have an even more robust skeleton and larger brain volume—averaging 1,000 cc . Western H. erectus brain volume could be as low as 546 cc in H. e. georgicus. H. erectus probably had a faster apelike growth trajectory, lacking the extended childhood required for language acquisition. Reconstructed adult body dimensions range from 141–167 cm in height and about 50 kg in weight.
H. erectus invented the Acheulean tool industry, a major innovation of large, heavy-duty stone tools. These may have been used in butchery, vegetable processing, and woodworking of spears and digging sticks. H. erectus was a major predator of large herbivores on the expanding savannas during the Quaternary glaciation. The species is usually characterized as the first hunter-gatherer and the first to practice sexual division of labor. Fire usage and cave habitation were probably not important aspects of daily life. Similarly, H. erectus may not have often ventured into colder regions or cooked meat. The last known occurrence of H. erectus is 108,000 to 117,000 years ago (H. e. soloensis) in Southeast Asia, until the last savannas in the region gave way to jungle.
H. erectus evolved in Africa from a population of H. habilis and they coexisted for about half a million years. During this time interval, H. erectus populations could display a mix of more "classically erectus" or "classically habilis" cranial anatomy and a wide range of brain volumes. The oldest identified H. erectus specimen is a 2.04 million year old skull, DNH 134, from Drimolen, South Africa, coexisting with the australopithecine Paranthropus robustus. H. erectus dispersed out of Africa soon after evolution, the earliest recorded instances being H. e. georgicus 1.78 to 1.85 million years ago in Georgia, the Indonesian Mojokerto and Sangiran sites 1.6 to 1.8 million years ago, and the Chinese Yunxian Man 1.77 million years ago. Populations may have pushed into northwestern Europe at around the same time.[38] While H. erectus is usually considered the first hominin to leave Africa, stone tools that may date to as far back as 2.48 and 2.1 million years ago (from Zarqa Valley, Jordan, and Shangchen, China, respectively) could indicate that an earlier hominin species left Africa.
