Origins of Genus Homo–Southern Africa and Origin of Homo; Adaptive Shifts; Energetics and Ecology - Duration: 58:20. Homo erectus had a brain size approaching that of modern humans. Homo erectus (meaning 'upright man') were a species of archaic humans from the Pleistocene, earliest occurrence about 2 mya.They are proposed to be the direct ancestors to several human species, such as H. heidelbergensis, H. antecessor, Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern humans. Homo erectus is important to the study of human evolution because it is the first species to be found outside of Africa and displayed many anatomical features (especially brain size and aspects of the postcranial skeleton—i.e., the parts of the skeleton below the head) that reflect evolution toward the pattern seen in Homo sapiens. Homo erectus: general features & information-discovered by Eugene Dubois, who was inspired by Ernst Heckel's books on early human evolution in Asia-Trinil, Java, ... -H. habilis ==> H. erectus:-increase in body size and height from H. habilis to H. erectus Homo habilis: Discovery, General Features, & Body Plan-the first species of the genus Homo -Olduvai Gorge-hominin with smaller jaws, teeth, and face but larger brain that Australopithecines ... -was living at the same time as Homo erectus and early modern humans-Neanderthals in Europe and Asia-Denisovans in Asia-other early Homo. Homo erectus is a fellow member of our own genus. Homo erectus (or the various species which may be subsumed under that appellation) are extremely important in the study of modern human origins. The basis of comparison include: evolution, teeth, brain capacity, legs and arms, habitat, speech, eyes, forehead, intelligence and more. Homo erectus - Homo erectus - Body structure: Much of the fossil material discovered in Java and China consists of cranial bones, jawbones, and teeth. Physical Features: Homo erectus was about the same height as today’s humans. Fossil remains were found in Java (1890s) and in China (1921). Nearly all of them were lost during World War II, but there are casts that are considered to be reliable evidence. However, these fossils don’t provide any real evidence of evolution. The lower legs of Homo erectus were long, a feature that helped dissipate heat. The archaic human species Homo erectus has been portrayed as an important ape-to-man transitional link. Learn the difference between homo sapien and Homo erectus. The Middle Pleistocene is where the modern human postcrania develops, the modern cranial features begin to …