explainer
Guide to Paranthropus species
Long known as a group of human relatives with big teeth and jaws, these ancient species lived for at least two million years alongside our ancestors.
![A closeup of the front of the SK 48 fossil skull showing the eye orbits](/content/images/size/w1460/2024/01/SK-48-visor-johnhawks.jpg)
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)