When I first studied hominin evolution, they had found "Lucy", an Australopithecus afarensis, and everyone thought her species was an early ancestor of Homo sapien. The picture is much more complicated, with lots of hominins living in close proximity for millions of years...much different than our now singular species. Look at the phylogenetic tree and use it as a guide to briefly describe hominin lines in Africa up to Homo. Do not discuss Homo.Just discuss a sense that you generally can grasp what was going on in Africa with our Genus for 6 or 7 million years!

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When I first studied hominin evolution, they had found "Lucy", an Australopithecus afarensis, and everyone thought her species was an early ancestor of Homo sapien. The picture is much more complicated, with lots of hominins living in close proximity for millions of years...much different than our now singular species.

Look at the phylogenetic tree and use it as a guide to briefly describe hominin lines in Africa up to Homo. Do not discuss Homo.Just discuss a sense that you generally can grasp what was going on in Africa with our Genus for 6 or 7 million years! 

### Figure 8-37: Tentative Early Hominin Phylogeny

#### Description:

This diagram illustrates a tentative phylogenetic tree of early hominins. It encompasses several hominin species from roughly 8 to 0 million years ago (mya). The diagram highlights the uncertainty in the evolutionary relationships among these species, indicated by numerous question marks.

#### Explanation of the Diagram:

- **Y-Axis (Time Scale):** The vertical axis represents time, ranging from 8 million years ago (mya) at the bottom to the present (0 mya) at the top.
  
- **Hominin Species:**
  - **H. erectus:** Shown at around 2 mya extending towards the present.
  - **Homo habilis:** Located at approximately 2 mya with dashed lines indicating uncertainty in its placement.
  - **A. sediba, A. africanus, Paranthropus, A. afarensis, Australopithecus anamensis, Ardipithecus, Orrorin, Sahelanthropus:** These species are placed at various points along the timeline, with their possible connections to one another shown.

- **Lines and Question Marks:**
  - **Solid Lines:** Indicate more widely accepted evolutionary relationships.
  - **Dashed Lines and Question Marks:** Suggest areas of uncertainty and debate among scientists regarding how these species are related to each other.

#### Importance:

Understanding this phylogeny is crucial for students of human evolution, as it underscores the complexities and uncertainties in reconstructing the evolutionary history of hominins. Continuous research and discoveries can lead to revisions of these relationships, illustrating the dynamic nature of paleoanthropology.
Transcribed Image Text:### Figure 8-37: Tentative Early Hominin Phylogeny #### Description: This diagram illustrates a tentative phylogenetic tree of early hominins. It encompasses several hominin species from roughly 8 to 0 million years ago (mya). The diagram highlights the uncertainty in the evolutionary relationships among these species, indicated by numerous question marks. #### Explanation of the Diagram: - **Y-Axis (Time Scale):** The vertical axis represents time, ranging from 8 million years ago (mya) at the bottom to the present (0 mya) at the top. - **Hominin Species:** - **H. erectus:** Shown at around 2 mya extending towards the present. - **Homo habilis:** Located at approximately 2 mya with dashed lines indicating uncertainty in its placement. - **A. sediba, A. africanus, Paranthropus, A. afarensis, Australopithecus anamensis, Ardipithecus, Orrorin, Sahelanthropus:** These species are placed at various points along the timeline, with their possible connections to one another shown. - **Lines and Question Marks:** - **Solid Lines:** Indicate more widely accepted evolutionary relationships. - **Dashed Lines and Question Marks:** Suggest areas of uncertainty and debate among scientists regarding how these species are related to each other. #### Importance: Understanding this phylogeny is crucial for students of human evolution, as it underscores the complexities and uncertainties in reconstructing the evolutionary history of hominins. Continuous research and discoveries can lead to revisions of these relationships, illustrating the dynamic nature of paleoanthropology.
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