Question

• Where and when did these two fossil species (Homo heidelbergensis and Homo neanderthalensis)  live?
• Why is Homo neanderthalensis considered a different species from Homo heidelbergensis? List the specific features that make these two hominins different species

Answer 1

Homo Heidelbergensis-Lived in Africa, Europe, and possibly Asia- 600,000 to 200,000 years ago (Probably 5,00,000-4,00,000)

Their fossi is first discovered in Mauer near Heidelberg, Germany

and then later in

*Arago

*Greece

*France

Homo neanderthalensis-Originated in Africa then migrated and lived across Eurasia,Uzbekistan, Britain etc.They Lived about 1,30,000 and 40,000 years ago.

Earlier Homo heidelbergensis were previouslt known as Homo erectus or homo neanderthalensis.Later,they are considered as a seperate species eventhough  they possess features that are transitional ,that is between earlier and later species.

It is considered that Homo heidelbergensis migrates and had regional differences,

European populations of Homo heidelbergensis --------------Homo neanderthalensis

population of Homo heidelbergensis in Africa ---------------- Homo sapiens.

Homo neanderthalensis	Homo Heidelbergensis
1.Cranial Capacity-1426cm3 2.Short Limbs 3.Beetle Browed 4.Larger Teeth 5.Other Features- Wide Pelvis,Robust Skeleton,Huge nose,Angled Cheek Bones,Large middle part of Face,Low and sloping forehead	1.Cranial Capacity-1204cm3 2.Muscular and Tall 3.Very Prominent Brow ridge 4.Smaller Teeth 5.Other features- Robust Mandible,No chin,Large face and Big Frontal Lobes,Deep Temple ,Large nose