Human Evolution Timeline

Updated 15 Dec 2011

This chart shows the step-by-step progression of human evolution, all the way from single cells to modern Homo sapiens.

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Approx. no. of years ago	Geological time period	What evolved		Importance	What branched off at this stage
3,500,000,000	Archeon		Prokaryote cells	These single-celled organisms are the simplest form of life. How they evolved is unknown, although they probably developed from simpler organic systems	bacteria, archaea
2,000,000,000	Proterozoic		Eukaryote cells	These cells are more complex in that they have a nucleus and other specialized structures such as mitochondria.	amoebas, algae, fungi, plants
900,000,000			Choanoflagellates	These cells were the first to adhere together to form colonies.
600,000,000			Sea sponges	The first multi-celled animals were like the sea sponges of today. At this stage partially differentiated tissues started to evolve.
580,000,000			Cnidaria	Cnidaria, like modern-day jellyfish, were the first animals with the ability to move freely due to the evolution of nerves and muscles. Simple eyes also evolved at this stage.
550,000,000			Flat worms	Flat worms were the first animals to have bilateral symmetry and a brain.	worms, molluscs, insects
CAMBRIAN EXPLOSION - 'sudden' diversification of life
Paleozoic Era (Age of Fish)
530,000,000	Cambrian		Pikaia	These eel-like creatures were the first to have a more complex central nervous system. This stage occurred around the same time as the Cambrian explosion -- a period during which the animal kingdom underwent major diversification. (note: most of the images from Pikaia to Proconsul were created by Nobu Tamura from palaeocritti.com
505,000,000	Cambrian		Jawless fish	These creatures were the first to have a back bone although they still lacked the fins of proper fish.
480,000,000	Ordovician Silurian Devonian		Placoderms	These prehistoric fishes were the first to have jawed mouths, fins and a plate protecting their heads.	fish, sharks
365,000,000	Carboniferous		Tetrapods	Fish with four fins and upward facing eyes eventually evolved in more shallow, swampy habitats. The front limbs eventually evolved to bend backwards and the back limbs to bend frontwards.
315,000,000	Carboniferous		Amphibians	From the early tetrapods evolved the first amphibians, capable of dwelling both in the water and on the land. At this stage, lungs started to develop.	amphibians (such as frogs)
300,000,000	Permian		Reptiles	Reptiles were the first tetrapods to lay eggs on land and live primarily on land.	reptiles, dinosaurs, and birds
PERMIAN-TRIASSIC EXTINCTION - 96% of marine species become extinct
Mesozoic Era (Age of Dinosaurs)
250,000,000	Triassic Jurassic Cretaceous		Synapsida	Reptiles had eventually split into sauropsids (true reptiles) and synapsids (proto-mammals). Synapsids evolved a pair of holes in their skulls behind the eyes.
220,000,000	Triassic Jurassic Cretaceous		Mammals	Mammals eventually evolved to have warm blood, hair and the ability to manage their temperature by sweating. Instead of laying eggs, they give birth to live babies and feed them with milk.	non-primate mammals
K-T EXTINCTION - asteroid impact causes the extinction of the dinosaurs
Cenozoic Era (Age of Mammals)
65,000,000	Paleogene		Primates	The first primates evolved around the same time that the dinosaurs died out. They eventually developed opposable thumbs, very useful for living in trees.
47,000,000			Darwinius	The newly publicized Darwinius was a transitional form between the prosimians (lemurs & tarsiers) and simians (monkeys & apes). By this point, primates had evolved forward-facing eyes.	lemurs, tarsiers
30,000,000			Aegyptopithicus	Around this time, new world (South American) monkeys and old world (African) monkeys started evolving in different directions. Aegyptopithicus is one the earliest known old world monkeys	new world monkeys
27,000,000			Proconsul	Some old world monkeys eventually evolved ape-like qualities such as stronger shoulders, larger brains, better vision, and the lack of a tail. Proconsul is one of the earliest known ape-like primates.	old world monkeys, gibbons
13,000,000	Neogene		Pierolapithecus	The recently publicized Pierolapithecus might be the common ancestor of all great apes. The great apes are all larger, stronger, more intelligent, and more social than other primates.	orangutans, gorillas
7,000,000			Sahelanthropus Ttchadensis	Sahelanthropus, nicknamed "Toumai", may represent the last ancestor common ancestor between chimpanzees and humans. At this point, the layrnx evolved, which would eventually allow for more complex speech.	chimpanzees, bonobos
4,400,000			Australopithicus Afarensis	It is believed that the jungle started to get cooler and dryer around this time and that this forced some apes to spend more time on the ground, eventually leading to bipedalism. One of the first species to walk on two feet was Australopithecus Afarensis (nicknamed "Lucy").	Australopithicenes, Paranthropus
2,500,000	Quaternary		Homo Habilis	The earliest human species, homo habilis had larger brains than its predecessors, ate more meat, and started using the first stone tools	Homo Erectus, Homo Floresiensis?
1,700,000			Homo Ergaster	Homo Ergaster had shorter arms (like modern humans), less body hair and the ability to use fire. They lived entirely on the ground and developed greater cooperation between males and females. Humans also left Africa for the first time during this period.
500,000			Homo Heidelbergensis	Homo Heidelbergensis had a larger brain and used more advanced tools. He is also the ancestor of the Neanderthals -- the last major human species to co-exist with homo sapiens.	Neanderthals
100,000			Homo Sapiens	The first biologically modern Homo Sapiens evolved around 100,000 years ago in Africa. However, it was until about 50,000 years ago that they developed modern behaviours such as jewelry-making, wall painting, musical instruments, funeral customs, religion, long-distance trade, fishing, advanced language and abstract thought.