Members of the Homo sapiens species (called humans) are a species of primates characterized by bipedality and complex brains.

Homo Sapiens

Considered the earliest of the Homo genus, Homo habilis lived around 2.5-1.7mya in East and Southern Africa. The species' brain size is estimated to be about 650cc. Homo habilis traits include a rounded skull, less facial prognathism, smaller teeth, thinner enamel, and a parabolic dental arcade. However, their postcrania are similar to species under the genus Australopithecus. Homo habilis also contained toolmaking abilities, creating tools under the Oldowan stone industry. Particuarly, Homo habilis is known for their "flake and chopper" tools. 

Homo Habilis

Homo erectus lived around 1.8mya - apx. 200,000 years ago in  Africa, Asia, and Europe. Homo erectus traits include a larger brain (~900cc), a long, low skull, thick cranial bones, a sagittal keel, less prognathism, smaller teeth, a receding chin, and modern body size and proportions. Homo erectus had the capability to create tools, identified under the Acheulean tool industry that occurred around 1.5 mya. This includes symmetrical, bifacial flaking. These tools provide evidence of coordination and cooperation. Furthermore, evidence of cooking food due to smaller tooth/jaw size, larger brain, larger body, and smaller gut are associated with this species. 

Homo erectus

Neanderthals are modern human's closest extinct human relative. Traits associated with Neanderthals, include angled cheekbones, a larger nose for humidifying and warming cold, dry air, shorter and stockier bodies, and proportional brain size to a modern human. Neanderthals are also associated with toolmaking abilities, creating a diverse set of sophisticated tools, controlling fire, living in shelters, wearing clothing, being skilled hunters of large animals, and making symbolic or ornamental objects. There is evidence that Neanderthals deliberately buried their dead and occasionally even marked their graves with offerings, such as flowers. DNA has been recovered from more than a dozen Neanderthal fossils, indicating interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. They also could have had the ability to communicate in human language just like modern humans. 

Homo neanderthalensis

The species Homo naledi was about 4 feet and 9 inches. There is very little evidence for this species' tools or culture. However, their teeth indicate differences between Homo naledi and other Homo species in that period.  Fossils indicate a species that could climb trees and also utilize bipedalism,  lived around the time of early modern human ancestors, contain mosaic evolutionary features, no tools have yet to be discovered, and possible burial culture. 

Homo naledi 

- Homo erectus (extinct)
- Homo neanderthalensis (extinct)
- Homo sapiens
- Homo Habilis (extinct)
- Homo naledi (extinct)

Arizona State University

Georgetown University

The genus Homo has never been clearly defined, but includes modern day humans and other extinct species closely related to humans.

Homo- Classification

Wikipedia

Shook, B., Nelson, K., Aguilera, K., & Braff, L. (2019). Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology. American Anthropological Association Arlington. 978-1-931303-62-0

Learn Before

Related

Learn After