Species
While the exact number of early human species is debated, on this page are links to summaries of the early human species accepted by most scientists. Click on any species to learn more about it.
At the bottom of this page is a chart showing the time span during which fossils of each species have been found.
![Image of Common ancestor face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/common_ancestor_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=YaUb7nU0)
Ardipithecus kadabba
![image of Ardipithecus ramidus face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/ramidus_illustration_KC_p.jpg.webp?itok=V9jV9j1r)
Ardipithecus ramidus
![Image of male reconstruction based on AL444-2 by John Gurche. 3/4 view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/landscape/afarensis_JG_Recon_Head_CC_3qtr_lt_l.jpg.webp?itok=qIIDRNW8)
Australopithecus afarensis
![Image of reconstruction based on STS 5 by John Gurche](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/landscape/africanus_JG_Recon_head_CC_f_l.jpg.webp?itok=ONVL_TmN)
Australopithecus africanus
![Image of Common ancestor face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/common_ancestor_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=YaUb7nU0)
Australopithecus anamensis
![Image of Common ancestor face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/common_ancestor_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=YaUb7nU0)
Australopithecus garhi
![Image of Common ancestor face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/common_ancestor_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=YaUb7nU0)
Australopithecus sediba
![Image of reconstruction based on ER 3733 by John Gurche](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/landscape/erectus_JC_Recon_Head_CC_f_l.jpg.webp?itok=7X9O0d7c)
Homo erectus
![Image of female hobbit reconstruction based on LB-1 by John Gurche](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/landscape/floresiensis_JG_Recon_Head_CC_3qtr_lt_l1.jpg.webp?itok=sLzyPNHW)
Homo floresiensis
![Image of Homo habilis face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/habilis_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=69MJWWuu)
Homo habilis
![Image of male reconstruction based on Kabwe by John Gurche](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/landscape/heidelbergensis_JG_Recon_head_CC_3qtr_lt_l.jpg.webp?itok=iuFmEB9a)
Homo heidelbergensis
![Homo naledi facial reconstruction by artist John Gurche.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/landscape/H%20naledi%20reconstruction%20%20%20IMG_2355a%20l.jpg.webp?itok=iw0b5IeA)
Homo naledi
![Image of male Neanderthal reconstruction based on Shanidar 1 by John Gurche](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/neanderthalensis_JG_Recon_Head_CC_3qtr_lt_l.jpg.webp?itok=SHQQtja9)
Homo neanderthalensis
![Image of <i>Homo rudolfensis</i> face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/rudolfensis_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=dTod3AsT)
Homo rudolfensis
![image of text: You Are Here](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/sapiens_YouAreHere_text_p.jpg.webp?itok=t47IyMEn)
Homo sapiens
![Image of Common ancestor face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/common_ancestor_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=YaUb7nU0)
Kenyanthropus platyops
![Image of Common ancestor face illustration, front view](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/common_ancestor_illustration_kc_head_p.jpg.webp?itok=YaUb7nU0)
Orrorin tugenensis
![Image of Paranthropus aethiopicus face illustration](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/images/portrait/aethiopicus_illustration_KC_p.jpg.webp?itok=AbAwCvRn)
Paranthropus aethiopicus
Full Image
![Time bar to a group of fossils not yet identified to a particular species.](/sites/default/files/styles/hero_banner/public/2022-02/2.3.2-7_survival_ch%20April%202019.jpg.webp?itok=ETJKZoMr)