Question

Given below are the characteristics of the human ancestors.
(i)-They are the first human-like beings.
(ii)-They buried their dead.
(iii)-The fossils of this human ancestor were discovered in Java in 1891.
Based on these characteristics, identify the human ancestors and arrange them in the decreasing order of their cranial capacity.

Answer 1

The order of human evolution is as follows:

Dryopithecus →Ramapithecus →Australopithecines →Homo habilis →Homo erectus →Homo neanderthalensis →Homo sapiens.

The first human-like being was called Homo habilis. The brain capacities were between 650-800cc. The genus Homo was designated to this ancestor due to the increased cranial capacity and smaller molar and premolar teeth of the fossils when compared to the other primates.

The fossils of Homo erectus were discovered in Java in 1891. Homo erectus existed about 1.5 million years ago. The cranial capacity was about 900cc.

The Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis) lived in near east and central Asia between 1,00,000-40,000 years ago. Their brain capacity was 1400cc. Evidence suggests that they are the first ones to bury their dead.

Hence, the ancestors of humans in the decreasing order of the cranial capacity are Homo neanderthalensis (ii) →Homo erectus (iii) →Homo habilis (i).