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Humans and apes are two different living species. Since, modern day humans and apes have originated from the same ancestor, there are some similarities between the two species. However, the differences are more pronounced and are the result of different evolutionary processes. While humans belong to the category of more evolved apes along with chimpanzees, orang-utans, and gorillas, there is a separated category of apes. In this article, we are going to discuss the evolution of humans, its ancestors, and what are the major differences between humans and apes.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Human Evolution, Ancestors, Bipedalism, Intelligence, Brain capacity, Tools
Process of Evolution of Man
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Man belongs to the homonidae family of the order of Primates. Human-like apes such as gorillas, organtunas and chimpanzees belong to the same family. However, our ancestors and those of the apes diverged millions of years ago. This led to the differences we note today. Modern humans are known as homo sapiens, but human evolution was gradual and not sudden. Therefore, we had many ancestors who lived and became extinct millions of years ago. Some of them are:
- Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus which existed nearly 15 mya (million years ago). These homonids were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees. Ramapithecus was more manlike while Dryopithecus was more ape-like. It is widely considered to be the last common ancestor of Man and Ape.
- Australopithecus lived around 3 to 4 mya and were probably our first ancestors that walked upright. They were 4 feet tallon average. Their man-like bones were found in Eastern Africa.
- Homo habilis were the first hominids who belonged to the same genus (homo) as modern humans. They could make tools but probably did not eat a lot of meat. They are believed to have been able to speak.
- Homo erectus lived around 1.5 mya. They had large brains and could walk upright. Meat wasmost likely a part of their diet. Homo erectus also moved around from one place to another.
- Home neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) lived in east and central Asian regions. They had larger brains than modern humans with a capacity of 1400 cc. They buried their dead, made hunting tools and used hides to cover their bodies.
- Cro- mangnon were completely erect and tall. They made fine tools and are often considered the earliest modern humans.
- Homo sapiens and their distinct races were the most evolved specimens. They originated in Africa around 75,000 years ago and migrated to almost every part of the world. They made art, complex tools and created the world as we know it today.
As you can see, humans followed a different evolutionary path than apes, even though our earliest ancestors were very similar.
Also Read: Origin and Evolution of Man
Difference Between Humans and Apes
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Humans and apes are different in many aspects.
- Skull and bone structure
- When the skull and bones of humans arecomapred to those of apes we see many differences. Apes possess a prognathous face whereas humans have a decidedly orthognathous face. This means that in the skulls of apes, the lower jaw area protrudes outwards giving them the very distinct skull shape. Humans on the other hand have jaws that do not protrude too much and are nearly perpendicular to the front of the head. The difference in facial structure also means that apes also have a more pronounced brow ridge which makes their eyes seem more deep set. Humans’ brow ridges are not as pronounced and prominent as apes. Human beings have smaller jaws than our ape cousins, and our canines are mcuh smaller too.
- Most apes have diastema or an open space between the uper incisors which humans lack.
- Arms of apes are much longer than their legs. This is not the case for humans. Our arms are not longer than our legs.
- The toes or hallux of apes are opposable. Humans do not have opposable hallux, only our thumbs (pollex) are opposable.
- There is also a great difference in the shape of the spines of the apes and humans. While humans have an ‘s’shaped spine due to bipedal locomotion, apes have a more ‘c’ shaped spine due to their quadripedal locomotion
- Habitat and locomotion
- Humans evolved so that they could move around their territory faster and more efficiently while hunting and gathering. Due to this, humans developed one of their most crucial features i.e. bipedalism. Bipedalism or bipedal locomotion refers to the humans’ capacity to support their body frame on two limbs while walking. Human beings are bipedal and can walk on their legs, leaving their hands free. Apes continue to be quadripedal meaning mostly, they need to support their body weight on allfourlimbs ot be able to move around.
- Bidepalism is also the reason why humans are more suited for living on flat terrain. They cannot live in trees. Apes are primarily suited for arboreal terrain and spend most of their lives in trees.
- Brain capacity and intelligence
- Humans are more intellegent than apes. Apes have a brain capacity of 400 cc to 600 cc while a human’s brain capacity is approximately 1450 cc.
- Humans are capable of speech and learning written language to communicate with others of their own species. Apes do not have any kind of written language or the capacity to produce speech. While apes exhibit emotional intellegence to a certain extent, humans are more complex emotional beings. Humans can also transmit knowledge from one generation to another whereas this is not as common in apes.
- Apes are capable of very rudimentary toolmaking, comparable to our ancestors like the homo habilis or homo erectus. Modern humans are capable of much more complex thought processes and more complex tools.
Also Read: Charles Darwin Theory
Table of differences:
Some of the most prominent differences between apes and men are illustrated in the table below.
| Apes | Man |
|---|---|
| Most apes have very prominent brow ridges | The brow ridges in humans are less pronounced |
| Most apes have a diastema (an open space between upper incisors) | Humans do not have a diastema |
| Arms are longer than legs | Arms are NOT longer than legs |
| Most apes have a C-shaped spine | Humans have an S-shaped spine |
| Great toes (hallux) is opposable | Hallux is not opposable |
| (Some) apes can make simple tools | Humans can make much more complex tools |
| Apes do not have any written language | Humans have many written languages |
Things to remember
- Humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor millions of years ago.
- There are several differences between humans and apes.
- Humans and apes have different skull and bone structures.
- There is a marked difference in intelligence and brain capacity.
- Humans are more capable of complex thought processes than apes.
Also Read:
Sample questions
Ques 1. How would you differentiate between the skull of a human and an ape? (2 Marks)
Ans. Apes have prognthous faces while humans have oragthnous faces. Apes skulls recede backwards from the jaw giving the jaw a protruding feel. In humans, the jaw is almost perpendicular to the forehead. The jaw of apes are much bigger and wider than those of humans. Apes also have more prominent brow ridges than humans.
Ques 2.
(i)In which part of the world, Neanderthal man lived?
(ii)What was his brain’s capacity?
(iii)Mention the advancement which Neanderthal man showed over homo erectus. (3 Marks)
Ans. (i) Neanderthals were found near Eastern and Central Asia
(ii) They had an average brain capacity of 1400 c. which was larger than modern humans.
(iii) They made use of hides to cover the bodies aginst the cold and buried their dead showing greater community life and intelligence.
Ques 3. Trace the important stages of human development. (7 marks)
Ans.
- Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus which existed nearly 15 mya (million years ago). These homonids were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees. Ramapithecus was more manlike while Dryopithecus was more ape-like. It is widely considered to be the last common ancestor of Man and Ape.
- Australopithecus lived around 3 to 4 mya and were probably our first ancestors that walked upright. They were 4 feet tallon average. Their man-like bones were found in Eastern Africa.
- Homo Habilis were the first hominids who belonged to the same genus (homo) as modern humans. They could make tools but probably did not eat a lot of meat. They are believed to have been able to speak.
- Homo erectus lived around 1.5 mya. They had large brains and could walk upright. Meat wasmost likely a part of their diet. Homo erectus also moved around from one place to another.
- Neanderthals lived in east and central Asian regions. They had larger brains than modern humans with a capacity of 1400 cc. They buried their dead, made hunting tools and used hides to cover their bodies.
- Cromangnonman were completely erect and tall. They made fine tools and were fine artists.
- Homo sapiens and their distinct races were the most evolved specimens. They originated in Africa around 75,000 years ago and migrated to almost every part of the world. They made art, complex tools and created the world as we know it today.
Ques 4. Name the common ancestor of apes & man. (1 Marks)
Ans, Dryopithecus is often considered to be the last common ancestor between man and ape. After this point, both species followed very different evolutionary paths.
Ques 5. Name the species of human beings which is most closely related to modern man. (2 Marks)
Ans. Cro- mangnon were completely erect and tall. They were one branch of the homo sapiens, and therefore, they had many features of modern day humans They are considered the closest relatives to modern man.
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