Hello, I'm an expert in the field of human evolution and prehistoric anthropology. I'm here to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the species that came before humans, specifically Homo sapiens.

The journey of human evolution is a fascinating and complex one, with many different species and subspecies emerging and disappearing over millions of years. To understand what came before humans, we need to look back at the broader family of hominins, which includes all species more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees.

Homo erectus is indeed a significant species in this narrative. They were the first hominins to leave Africa and migrate to other parts of the world. This species lived from about 1.8 million to around 1.3 million years ago. They were the first to use fire, create complex tools, and have a brain size that was larger than their predecessors.
Homo erectus is also known for its distinctively tall and slender body, which was well-adapted for long-distance travel.

However, Homo erectus was not the first species in the Homo lineage. Before them, there were other species like Homo habilis, which lived from about 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago. Known as 'Handy Man' due to their ability to use tools, they had a smaller brain size compared to Homo erectus but were significant in the development of tool use.

Further back in time, we encounter the genus Australopithecus, which includes several species that lived between about 4 million and 2 million years ago. These hominins were more similar to apes than to modern humans, but they were the first to walk upright on two legs, a crucial adaptation that paved the way for the evolution of our own species.

Australopithecus afarensis, living around 3.9 to 2.9 million years ago, is particularly notable. This species includes the famous fossil known as "Lucy," which provided significant insights into early human ancestors' anatomy and behavior.

Before the Australopithecus, there were even earlier hominins, but the fossil record becomes more sparse and speculative the further back we go. However, it's clear that the lineage leading to humans diverged from that of our closest relatives, the chimpanzees, around 5 to 7 million years ago.

It's also important to note that the classification of hominins is not always straightforward. For example, one population of Homo erectus, sometimes classified as a separate species Homo ergaster, is believed to have remained in Africa and eventually evolved into Homo sapiens. This highlights the complex and intertwined nature of human evolution, with different populations interbreeding and influencing each other's development.

In conclusion, the species that came before humans represent a rich tapestry of evolutionary history. From the upright walkers of the Australopithecus genus to the tool users of Homo habilis, the globetrotters of Homo erectus, and the enigmatic Homo ergaster, each species played a role in the long journey that led to the emergence of our own species, Homo sapiens.

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Homo erectus were the first of the hominins to emigrate from Africa, and, from 1.8 to 1.3 million years ago, this species spread through Africa, Asia, and Europe. One population of H. erectus, also sometimes classified as a separate species Homo ergaster, remained in Africa and evolved into Homo sapiens.read more >>