Aegyptopithecus An extinct ape that lived in Egypt 35 million years ago. It was about 60 cm (2 ft) long and walked on four legs. It is believed to be an ancestor of today’s Old World monkeys—monkeys from Africa and Asia with relatively short, inflexible tails and nostrils that are very close together.

Australopithecines An extinct family of apes that evolved in Africa around 3.8 million years ago. Most species were about 1 m (just over 3 ft) tall, with long arms, short legs and a small brain. They looked ape-like but probably walked upright. Fossils of several kinds, including Australopithecus afarensis, A. anamensis, A. africanus and A. garhi, have been discovered. One was probably the ancestors of humans.

Denisovans A species of Homo that is known only from fragments of bone and teeth discovered in a Siberian cave in 2008 and, more recently, in another cave in Tibet. Like the Neanderthals, Denisovans were descended from Homo heidelbergensis, which originated in Africa. They later spread out across Central and East Asia and to Southeast Asia. They are known to have encountered Neanderthals and Homo sapiens and interbred with both of them. They may only have gone extinct around 14,500 years ago.

Hominids All great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans) and humans, both extinct and in existence today. The first hominids date to around 25 million years ago.

Hominins A human or a human ancestor. Hominins include all the Homo species (e.g. Homo sapiens and Homo erectus), the Australopithecines (e.g. Australopithecus afarensis) as well as other ancient forms such as Paranthropus and Ardipithecus.

Hominoids A family of primates that includes humans and their ancestors, as well as great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans) and lesser apes (gibbons).

Homo A family of hominins, distinguished by their large brains and upright stance, as well as their use of tools, art and language. The first known was the species Homo habilis.

Homo antecessor A species of human that lived in Europe from 1.2 to 0.8 million years ago. It was among the first humans to colonize Europe, hence, the Latin name antecessor, which means "pioneer". Once thought to be an ancestor of both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens (replacing Homo heidelbergensis), it is now regarded as another descendant of Heidelbergs, one which evolved earlier than Neanderthals and modern humans. Antecessor was probably responsible for the set of fossilized footprints, dating to over 800,000 years ago, found on a beach at Happisburgh in Norfolk, England.

Homo erectus An extinct species of hominin that lived between about 2 million and (possibly) 108,000 years ago. Its name means “upright man”. It grew to the same size as modern humans, but had jutting brows unlike our own. Homo erectus lived and hunted in groups, using basic stone tools and cooking over a fire. It originated in Africa but spread to Asia and Europe.

Homo ergaster An extinct species of hominin that lived in Africa between 1.7 and 1.4 million years ago (according to its fossil record). It had thin bones and a low forehead. Its name, meaning “work person”, refers to its use of stone tools. Many scientists think Homo ergaster was actually identical to Homo erectus.

Homo habilis An extinct species of hominin that lived in Africa 2.4 million to 1.4 million years ago. Its name means “handy man”. Homo habilis made simple tools by striking one stone against another to make a sharp edge. It was probably a scavenger rather than a hunter.

Homo heidelbergensis An extinct species of hominin that evolved in Africa about 700,000 years ago, and had migrated to Europe by about 500,000 years ago. The average male stood about 1.75 m (5 ft 9 inches) tall, while females averaged 1.57 m (5 ft 2 inches). They hunted using basic tools made of stone or bone. Evidence of group hunting suggests that Homo heidelbergensis, often simply called Heidelbergs, could communicate with each other, probably using gestures. Homo heidelbergensis was probably descended from Homo erectus (or ergaster), and was likely to be the ancestor of Neanderthals, Denisovans and Homo sapiens.

Homo rudolfensis An extinct species of hominin that lived in Africa 2 million years ago. It had a bigger brain than any previous hominin. It made rough tools and possibly lived in simple shelters. Some scientist believe it was the same as Homo habilis.

Homo sapiens Modern-day humans. The scientific name means “wise man”. Homo sapiens evolved in Africa about 300,000 years ago. Their brains were larger than any of their ancestors, apart from the Neanderthals. They used tools, hunted large game, and created works of art such as cave paintings.

Land bridge An area of land that joins two larger landmasses. Land bridges, formed as the sea levels fell due to the onset of the Pleistocene Ice Ages, allowed humans to move to lands such as the Americas, Australia and Japan.

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) A species of Homo that first appeared in Europe and the near East around 400,000 years ago. The Neanderthals had short, muscular bodies, overhanging brows and heavy, chinless jaws. Their brains were larger than those of modern humans. They lived in groups and hunted wild animals. They died out about 40,000 years ago, possibly because they lost out in competition for food with Homo sapiens.

Out-of-Africa theory The widely accepted theory that all modern humans, Homo sapiens, are descended from a group that evolved in Africa at least 300,000 years ago and spread to other parts of the world in a series of migration waves.

Primates A group of mammals that includes humans, apes and monkeys. Primates have large brains, flexible fingers and toes, and eyes at the front of their heads.

Consultant: Chris Jarvis