Arrange the following on the basis of their origin earliest to latest:
(A) Homo habilis
(B) Neanderthal Man
(C) Ramapithecus
(D) Homo sapiens
(E) Homo erectus
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (C), (A), (E), (B), (D)
(C) Ramapithecus — first. About 15 mya, primates such as Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus existed. They were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees; Ramapithecus was more man-like.
(A) Homo habilis — second. About 2 mya, Homo habilis was probably the first human-like being. Its brain capacity was 650-800 cc, and it probably did not eat meat.
(E) Homo erectus — third. Fossils of about 1.5 mya show Homo erectus, with a larger brain of about 900 cc. It probably ate meat.
(B) Neanderthal Man — fourth. The Neanderthal man, with a brain size of 1400 cc, lived in the near east and central Asia between 1,00,000 and 40,000 years back. They buried their dead.
(D) Homo sapiens — last. Homo sapiens arose in Africa and moved across continents. Modern Homo sapiens arose during the ice age, between 75,000 and 10,000 years ago.
NCERT Extract:
Origin and Evolution of Man – “About 15 mya, primates called Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus were existing. They were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees. Ramapithecus was more man-like while Dryopithecus was more ape-like. … Two mya, Australopithecines probably lived in East African grasslands. Evidence shows they hunted with stone weapons but essentially ate fruit. Some of the bones among the bones discovered were different. This creature was called the first human-like being the hominid and was called Homo habilis. The brain capacities were between 650-800cc. They probably did not eat meat. Fossils discovered in Java in 1891 revealed the next stage, i.e., Homo erectus about 1.5 mya. Homo erectus had a large brain around 900cc. Homo erectus probably ate meat. The Neanderthal man with a brain size of 1400cc lived in near east and central Asia between 1,00,000-40,000 years back. They used hides to protect their body and buried their dead. Homo sapiens arose in Africa and moved across continents and developed into distinct races. During ice age between 75,000-10,000 years ago modern Homo sapiens arose.”