Australopithecus anamensis
Guide to Sahelanthropus, Orrorin and Ardipithecus
These fossil species between 8 million and 4.4 million years old include some of the earliest members of the hominin lineage.
![Ardipithecus hand skeleton next to a human hand X-ray image](/content/images/size/w1460/2023/10/ardipithecus-hand-human-x-ray-hand-composite-1.jpg)
Guide to Australopithecus species
These ancient human relatives include the first species with evidence of upright walking and running like humans. They represent more than a third of our evolutionary history.
![Five fossil skulls in three-quarter view looking toward the right](/content/images/size/w1460/2023/09/australopithecus-skulls-montage.jpg)
The real story of myosin, jaw muscles, and ancient brains
The provocative idea that our genus arose with a deactivated muscle gene turned out to be wrong.
![Bonobo and gorilla head and neck, showing ecorché muscles on the left side of each](/content/images/size/w1460/2023/08/bonobo-gorilla-head-muscles-visible-ape-data-left-oblique.png)
Presentation on species concepts and the hominin fossil record
On a visit to Charles Darwin's home, I share some perspectives on how paleoanthropologists think about species.
![John Hawks seen talking in front of a wooded background with a sandy pathway](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/11/johnhawks-sandwalk-video-still.jpg)