Species
See also: list of human evolution fossilsSpecies status of Homo rudolfensis, H. ergaster, H. georgicus, H. antecessor, H. cepranensis, H. rhodesiensis and H. floresiensis remains under debate. H. heidelbergensis and H. neanderthalensis are closely related to each other and have been considered to be subspecies of H. sapiens. Recently, nuclear DNA from a Neanderthal specimen from Vindija Cave has been sequenced, as well, using two different methods that yield similar results regarding Neanderthal and H. sapiens lineages, with both analyses suggesting a date for the split between 460,000 and 700,000 years ago, though a population split of around 370,000 years is inferred. The nuclear DNA results indicate about 30% of derived alleles in H. sapiens are also in the Neanderthal lineage. This high frequency may suggest some gene flow between ancestral humans and Neanderthal populations.
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| Species | Lived when (Ma) | Lived where | Adult height | Adult mass | Cranial capacity (cm³) | Fossil record | Discovery / publication of name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denisova hominin | 0.04 | Altai Krai | 1 site | 2010 | |||
| H. antecessor | 1.2 – 0.8 | Spain | 1.75 m (5.7 ft) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 1,000 | 2 sites | 1997 |
| H. cepranensis | 0.5 – 0.35 | Italy | 1,000 | 1 skull cap | 1994/2003 | ||
| H. erectus | 1.8 – 0.2 | Africa, Eurasia (Java, China, India, Caucasus) | 1.8 m (5.9 ft) | 60 kg (130 lb) | 850 (early) – 1,100 (late) | Many | 1891/1892 |
| H. ergaster | 1.9 – 1.4 | Eastern and Southern Africa | 1.9 m (6.2 ft) | 700–850 | Many | 1975 | |
| H. floresiensis | 0.10 – 0.012 | Indonesia | 1.0 m (3.3 ft) | 25 kg (55 lb) | 400 | 7 individuals | 2003/2004 |
| H. gautengensis | >2 – 0.6 | South Africa | 1.0 m (3.3 ft) | 1 individual | 2010/2010 | ||
| H. habilis | 2.3 – 1.4 | Africa | 1.0–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) | 33–55 kg (73–120 lb) | 510–660 | Many | 1960/1964 |
| H. heidelbergensis | 0.6 – 0.35 | Europe, Africa, China | 1.8 m (5.9 ft) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 1,100–1,400 | Many | 1908 |
| H. neanderthalensis | 0.35 – 0.03 | Europe, Western Asia | 1.6 m (5.2 ft) | 55–70 kg (120–150 lb) (heavily built) | 1,200–1,900 | Many | (1829)/1864 |
| H. rhodesiensis | 0.3 – 0.12 | Zambia | 1,300 | Very few | 1921 | ||
| H. rudolfensis | 1.9 | Kenya | 700 | 2 sites | 1972/1986 | ||
| H. sapiens idaltu | 0.16 – 0.15 | Ethiopia | 1,450 | 3 craniums | 1997/2003 | ||
| H. sapiens sapiens (modern humans) | 0.2 – present | Worldwide | 1.4–1.9 m (4.6–6.2 ft) | 50–100 kg (110–220 lb) | 1,000–1,980 | Still living | —/1758 |
Read more about this topic: Homo
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