Let’s go back down the evolutionary tree and you tell me which creatures go to heaven. Here are the last 10 steps in reverse chronological order… Homo sapiens (us): Emerged in Africa ~300,000–315,000 years ago. Anatomically modern humans with high foreheads, smaller faces, and advanced tool use/culture. 2. Early Homo sapiens ancestors / late archaic Homo (e.g., related to Homo heidelbergensis or African archaic populations): ~500,000–800,000 years ago. A common ancestor (or closely related group) for modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. Brain expansion and more advanced tools. 3. Homo heidelbergensis (or similar): ~700,000–200,000 years ago. Often cited as a key ancestor or close relative; widespread in Africa/Europe. Larger brains, sophisticated tools, possible fire use and hunting. 4. Homo erectus / Homo ergaster: ~1.9 million–~100,000 years ago (earlier forms). First major hominin to leave Africa; tall, long-legged, controlled fire, made advanced tools (Acheulean). Direct or close ancestor to later Homo species. 5. Early Homo (e.g., Homo habilis or Homo rudolfensis): ~2.8–1.5 million years ago. First members of genus Homo in Africa. Larger brains than australopithecines, simple stone tools (Oldowan), some meat scavenging/hunting. Transitional from more ape-like ancestors. 6. Australopithecus (e.g., A. afarensis like “Lucy,” or A. africanus/garhi): ~4–2 million years ago. Bipedal (walked upright), but still small-brained and partly arboreal. Key adaptations for walking on two legs; some may link to early Homo. 7. Earlier australopithecines or transitional hominins (e.g., A. anamensis or Ardipithecus): ~4.4–6 million years ago. More primitive bipeds or facultative bipeds with ape-like traits (e.g., grasping feet, smaller canines). Ardipithecus ramidus shows woodland habitat and partial bipedalism. 8. Earliest hominins (e.g., Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Orrorin tugenensis): ~6–7 million years ago. Very early after the human-chimp split. Sahelanthropus (~7 mya) had a small brain but possible bipedal traits (foramen magnum position). Mix of ape and hominin features. 9. Last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees/bonobos: ~6–8 (or up to 9–7) million years ago. A now-extinct primate population in Africa. Not a modern chimp; likely arboreal with some ground adaptations. Genetic divergence point. 10. Common ancestor with gorillas (Homininae divergence): ~8–10+ million years ago. Earlier ape-like ancestor shared with gorillas (after orangutan split ~12–14 mya). Miocene apes like possible candidates (e.g., related to Dryopithecus or African forms). More generalized great-ape traits before hominin-specific changes.
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