Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Evolution is the gradual changes of animals and plants from one generation to another or simpler to complex form,
leading to formation of new varieties, species, genera, etc.
The universe originated 15-20 billion years ago through thermonuclear explosion of cosmogenic materials (Primeval or
Ylem). The explosion which occurred in the cosmic material is called Big Bank (Abbe Lemaitre, 1931). This theory of special
creation of universe is Big Bank theory.
Origin of life: The origin of life on the earth is a most complicated problem for philosophers and naturalists from ancient
time. Different views have been put forward concerning the origin of life by workers. Some of most important hypothesis &
theories regarding the origin of life are as follows:
1. Theory of special creation: This theory was proposed by Hebrew et al. The greater supporter of this theory was Father
Suarez (1524-1617).According to this theory; all the existing plants and animals were created by some super natural
power or God.
2. Cosmogenic Theory: This theory state that life came on earth from other planet in the form of spore called panspermia.
This theory was proposed by Richter (1865) and supported by Arrhenius (1908).
3. Theory of Spontaneous Generation or abiogenesis (Gk. A=not, bios=life, genesis=birth; Life from non-living): This
theory was proposed by Anaximander and this concept further held by Thales, Aristotle, Anaximenes, Empedocles,
Xenophanes and Plato. Von Helmont (1577-1657) was greatest supporter of this theory. Von Helmont in 1652 stated
that young mice could arise from wheat grains when these were put in dark place (room) along with a moist dirty cloth
(shirt).
4. Theory of biogenesis (life from life):
This theory states that the life is originated no from inanimate substances but the living organisms already present in the
atmosphere in pre-existing forms. When they get suitable condition or medium, they grow and multiply.
1| NABIN K. PANDIT
ii) Formation of hydrocarbons: It is presumed that when the temperature of earth was considerably cooled to 1000C or
even low, the highly reactive free radicals –CH and –CH2 condensed to form varieties of saturated and unsaturated
hydrocarbons.
CH + CH → C2H2 (acetylene)
CH2 + CH2 → C2H4 (ethylene)
CH2 + CH2 → CH4 (Methane) + C
iii) Formation of oxy and hydroxyl derivatives of hydrocarbons: These hydrocarbons reacted with super-heated steam and
formed oxy and hydroxyl derivatives of hydrocarbon such as aldehydes (-CHO) and ketones (=CO).
C2H2 + H2O → CH3-CHO (acetaldehyde)
iv) Formation of carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids: Due to the condensation, polymerization, oxidation and
reduction of these above molecules simple sugar, amino acids and fatty acids were formed.
6CH4 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 (simple sugars) + 12H2↑
2CH3-CHO → CH3COOH + CH3CH2OH
(Acetaldehyde) (Acetic acid) (Ethyl alcohol)
CH3COOH + CH3CH2OH → CH3COOCH2CH3 + H2O
(Acetic acid) (Ethyl alcohol) (Ethyl acetate)
2HCHO → CH2OH CHO
(Formaldehyde) (Glycol aldehyde)
CH2OH CHO +H2O → CH2OH CH2 OH + CH2OH COOH
(Glycol aldehyde) (Glycol) (Glycolic acid)
CH2OH COOH + NH3 → CH2NH2 COOH + H2O
(Glycolic acid) (Ammonia) (Glycine)
CH4 + H2O + NH3 → Amino acids
v) Formation of purines, pyrimidines and nucleotides: Above molecules again reacted and aggregated together in hot
water (ocean) and formed new molecules like purines, pyrimidines and nucleotides.
B) Biogeny: This step involves the formation of complex and self-reproducing biological molecules. This can be described under
following sub-steps:
i) Formation of nucleic acids: It is presumed that the sugar, phosphate, purines & pyrimidines combined together to form
nucleotides. A large number of nucleotides were combined to form nucleic acids such as DNA & RNA.
ii) Formation of co-acervates: The nucleic acids along with other macromolecules of primordial soup (a liquid rich in
organic compounds providing favorable condition for the emergence and growth of life forms) in the ocean aggregated
together and bounded by a layer of water to form a colloidal system called co-acervates.
iii) Formation of primary organism: These co-acervates started absorb inorganic substances from oceanic soup and
became multiplying. These grew in size and multiplied and resulted to the formation of anaerobic heterotrophs or proto
cells or first cells. Oparin called them protobionts. These were similar to virus. These first cells gradually gave rise to two
types of cells: Prokaryotic cells and Eukaryotic cells.
C) Cognogeny (evolution of mechanism of perception, expression & communication): These involve diversification in protozoa,
metazoan and metaphyta. Due to shortage of food, these organisms change their feeding habitat and became parasitic,
saprophytic, photosynthetic and so on.
Autotrophism:
Origin of chemosynthesis: With the drop of temperature, non-biotic synthesis of new organic substances stopped. Availability of
organic molecules decreased in oceans due to continued absorption by chemo-heterotrophs. At this time some of the living
being developed the ability of synthesize organic food from inorganic raw materials. Energy was provided by chemical reactions.
Synthesis of organic food from inorganic raw materials with help of chemical energy is called chemosynthesis and such
organisms performing chemosynthesis are called chemoautotrophs. Such mode of nutrition occurs in certain bacteria, e.g.
Sulphur bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, iron bacteria, etc.
Origin of photosynthesis: Due to shortage of organic compounds, some chemoautotrophs developed light harvesting pigment
called chlorophyll and started new mode of nutrition in presence of sunlight. This process is known as photosynthesis. The
2| NABIN K. PANDIT
organisms performing photosynthesis are called photoautotrophs. They prepare organic food by using water and CO 2 in presence
of sunlight. The first photoautotrophs were bacteria (e.g. Cyanobacteria). They were believed to evolve about 3.5 billion years
ago. They were found in colonial forms in India and Australia. From these organisms complex type of plants and animals were
developed later.
Parasitism: Some forms started living within the living organism for obtaining food from them.
Saprophytism: Some forms obtained their nourishment from dead and decaying bodies. This method of nutrition is called
Saprophytism.
Animalism: in this method one organism eats another in whole or parts.
Oxygen evolution: The liberation of oxygen into the atmosphere, produced by blue green algae due to photosynthesis. This O 2
brought about a number of changes in the primitive atmosphere. The important changes are as follows:
i. Release of free oxygen changed the atmosphere of earth from reducing to oxidizing atmosphere.
ii. Free oxygen oxidized methane & ammonia to form gases like CO 2 & N2.
iii. Thus, the composition of primitive atmosphere changed to the present atmosphere, with the free oxygen.
iv. Accumulation of free oxygen formed a layer of ozone (O3) above the surface of the earth which started absorbing
most of the UV rays of sunlight.
v. The anaerobic was changed into aerobic organisms.
Sequence of evolution of primitive life:
1. Anaerobic, prokaryotic and chemo-heterotrophs
↓
2. Anaerobic, prokaryotic and chemo-autotrophs
↓
3. Anaerobic, prokaryotic and photo-autotrophs
↓
4. Aerobic, prokaryotic and photo-autotrophs
↓
5. Aerobic, eukaryotic and photo-autotrophs
↓
6. Higher forms of metaphyta and metazoa
ORGANIC EVOLUTION
The term evolution has been defined as a gradual and orderly change from one condition to another. Charles Darwin
(1859) has defined as “descent with modification”. The complex organisms of present day are the outcome of simpler organisms
existed in the past. The existing organisms have been evolved from common ancestors by a gradual process of modification.
3| NABIN K. PANDIT
Organic evolution can be defined as a “slow, continuous, progressive and an irreversible process in which the simple and
primitive organisms existed in the past were changed into the complex and advanced organisms of today over a long period of
time.
Evidences of organic evolution:
There are some evidences which support the organic evolution.
1. Evidences from morphology and comparative anatomy:
Animals show similarities in their organizations. A comparative
study of various structures in different groups of vertebrate revels a
basic plan of organization indicating by modifications. Three types of
organs such as homologous, analogous and vestigial organs in
different animal groups provide evidences in favor of evolution.
i) Homologous organs: Homologous organs are the organs which
are similar in origin but different in functions. Example, forelimbs
of whale (flippers), bat (wings), bird (wings), horse and man. The
forelimbs of whale are modified for swimming, of bat & bird for flying, of horse for running and of man for grasping. Thus,
the functions of forelimbs in these animals are entirely differing but these are originated in same pentadactyle pattern.
Conclusion: The homologous organs suggest that the organisms might be evolved from similar or common ancestors. It suggests
the divergent evolution.
ii) Analogous organs: Analogous organs are the organs which are similar in function but different in origin. These organs have
almost similar appearance and perform the same function but they develop in different groups as different structures. e.g.
a. Wings of a butterfly and bird/bat, b. Fins of fish & flipper of whale.
Conclusion: The analogous organs suggest that the organisms might be evolved from dissimilar ancestors. It suggests the
convergent evolution.
iii) Vestigial organs: Vestigial organs are reduced and functionless
organs present in organisms which are homologous to fully formed and
functional structures in related organisms. Many structures in our body and
in other animals are non-functional and no use but might have been large
and function in their ancestor.
Vestigial organs in human body are vermiform appendix, wisdom
teeth (3rd molar), pointed canines, caudal vertebrae (coccyx), nictitating
membrane, hair on body, etc. The vermiform appendix is large &functional in
all herbivorous animals and helps in cellulose digestion. The presence of
appendix in man indicates that ancestors of man were herbivorous.
Conclusion: The vestigial organs like vermiform appendix suggest that the
human being might be evolved from herbivorous like ancestors.
4| NABIN K. PANDIT
Paleontology can be further divided into two groups:
I) Paleozoology: study of animal fossils.
II) Paleobotany: study of plant fossils
Types of fossils: On the basis of the parts of organism preserved, there are several types of fossils, which are as follows:
1. Intact or entire (unaltered) fossil: This is the type of fossil in which entire organisms or its parts may get preserved in
original particularly in cold or dry regions of the world. e.g. ancient elephant (mammoths) preserved in frozen ice of
Siberia, insects in amber, etc.
2. Petrifaction or petrified or altered fossil: It is the most usual type of fossil in which hard parts like bones, teeth and
endoskeleton on organisms undergo mineralization. Replacement of organic parts by mineral deposits is called
petrifaction.
3. Mold or Casts: These are formed when organism get submerged in water containing lime. Sediments get deposited in
the form of a hard coat around the whole body or its parts.
4. Compression: Compression fossil is a fossil preserved in sedimentary rock that has undergone physical compression. The
burial parts became flat due to overlapping pressure of the sediments. In this case, the internal structure of the
organism is completely decayed and lost leaving behind a thin carbon film which provides an outline of the original
organism. It is usual in the study of external morphology.
5. Imprints or Impressions: They are remains representing foot print trails (marking of moving or crawling animal), tunnels,
burrow, etc.
Determination of the age of fossils
The age of the fossil is determined by 3 methods:
1. Clock of the Rock method or “Radioactive clock”:
This method is based on the conservation of unstable radioactive nuclei over a fixed period. Radioactive clock method
was introduced by Boltwood in 1907. It has been estimated that one million gram of uranium produces 17600 gram of
lead in one year. Therefore, by calculating the amount of lead in a rock, one can approximately estimate the age of the
rock and thus the age of the fossil present in it can be calculated.
2. Radioactive Carbon Method: This method was introduced by an American chemist Willard F. Libhy in 1950. He was
awarded with Nobel Prize in 1960 for radioactive dating technique. In every 5568 years half of C 14 will decay back to N14.
3. Potassium Argon method: It has recently been used to determine the age of hominid fossils in East Africa. This method
is useful because potassium is a common element found in all sorts of rocks. Half-life of Potassium40 is 1.3 x 109 years.
4. Electron-Spin Resonance method: This method is the relatively most accurate method of dating of fossils. This method
introduced by E.J. Zeller (1967) measures electrons displaced by natural radiation and trapped in ancient articles, fossils
and sediments.
Importance of paleontology:
i) It explains the evolutionary history (phylogeny) of the organisms. The phylogeny of horse, man and elephant are the
best examples.
ii) It suggests gradual development of the organisms with time.
iii) It helps to study the habits and behavior of extinct species.
iv) Some fossils provide connecting link between two groups of organisms.
e.g. Archaeopteryx, a fossil of bird retained certain reptilian features.
v) It indicates the complex forms of life that exist today arise from simpler
forms of pasts.
5| NABIN K. PANDIT
iv) Peripatus: between annelida & arthropoda.
v) Neopilina: between annelida & mollusca.
vi) Balanoglosus: between non-chordates & chordates.
vii) Chimaera (Rabbit fish): between cartilaginous & bony fish.
viii) Lung fish (Protopterus): between fishes & amphibian.
ix) Seymouria: between amphibian & reptiles.
x) Archaeopteryx: between reptiles & birds
xi) Platypus & Echidna: between reptiles & mammals.
Archaeopteryx: It was found in the rock of Jurassic period by Andreas Wagner (1861) from Germany. It lived about 180 million
years ago. The fossil is kept in the museum in London & Berlin. It provides a connecting link between reptiles & birds suggesting
that the birds might have been evolved from reptiles. It possessed following characters:
i) It had a beak like bird but teeth & heavier jaw like reptiles.
ii) Its forelimbs were modified into wings like birds but had claws on its wings like reptiles.
iii) It had feathers like birds but also had scales kike reptiles.
iv) It had feathery tail like birds but had tail vertebrae like reptiles (long tail).
v) It had an intimate fusion of the skull bones like bird but not pneumatic bone like reptiles.
vi) The hind limbs are built as bird but presence of weak sternum as like reptiles.
3. Evidences from Embryology: Embryology is the study of development of animals from egg to adult. The embryological
evidence of organic evolution are as follows:
a. Similarity in early development of animals: The early development stages of all multicellular organisms are similar. All
life is start from a single celled zygote. It develops into morula, blastula & gastrula.
Egg →Zygote →Morula → Blastula → gastrula → Formation of 3 germ layers
b. Similarity in vertebrate embryo: The embryo of fish, frog, tortoise, pigeon, rabbit & man appear to be all alike in
appearance and it is even difficult to distinguish them during their early stage of development. This similarity in the embryos
of divergent forms of vertebrates indicates their common ancestor.
c. Recapitulation theory or biogenic law: Von Baer (1828), father of modern embryology, discovered primary germ layers
and found that the different germ layers produce the same type of structures in different animal. Ernst Haeckel (1866)
proposed the recapitulation theory or biogenic law which states “every organism during its development repeats the
evolutionary history of its ancestors or race” i. e. ontogeny (development history of an individual) repeats or recapitulates
phylogeny (development history of race). When the embryo of various vertebrates compared, it becomes evident that the
embryos of higher group resemble the adult of lower groups, e.g. tadpole of frog, larva of Herdmania, etc.
4. Evidences from biochemistry and serology: Study of biochemistry provides some important and dependable evidences to
support the idea of evolution.
a. Similarity in chemical composition: In all living form four major elements like C, H, O and N form organic compounds. C,
H, & O combine together to form carbohydrates and with N to form proteins. The protoplasm in all living organisms has
same composition. Therefore, on the basis of chemical composition it can be concluded that the living organisms might
have evolved from a common ancestor.
b. Precipitation (serological test): Study of blood plasma is called serum. Serological tests are used to determine and
confirm the natural relationship due to the similarity of blood proteins.
c. Enzymes and hormones: In large groups of animal, there are identical enzymes and hormones available suggesting
organic evolution. Similarly, hormones are quite similar in many animals, which suggest the organic evolution.
Pattern of organic evolution:
1. Divergent evolution: The evolution of varieties of species from a single ancestral species is called divergent evolution. It
is also known as adaptive radiation. A good example of this process is the evolution of the Australian marsupials into
different species adapted as carnivores, herbivores, burrowers, fliers, etc. The divergent evolution leads to the
production of homologous similarity.
2. Convergent evolution: The process by which unrelated species evolve to resemble each other is called convergent
evolution. In convergent evolution, organisms with very different ancestors become more alike because they live in the
6| NABIN K. PANDIT
similar habitats. For example, the wings of insects, bats & birds and streamlined body of whales and fish are the
analogous structures.
3. Parallel evolution (Parallelism): It is the formation of similar traits in related groups of organisms independently due to
similar requirement. E.g., running in two-toed Deer & one-toed Horse, structural resemblances of new world & old
world Porcupines (spine bearing rodent: Mammal).
4. Coevolution: evolutionary changes in one species prompt corresponding changes on other species with ecological
interaction (i.e. evolution of two species at the same time exhibiting relationship). e.g., Parasite & host, Predator & prey.
5. Progressive evolution: Evolution of complex organisms from simpler organisms. e.g., unicellular to multicellular.
6. Retrogressive evolution: Evolution of complex organisms to simpler organisms. e.g., wings in flightless bird, vermiform
appendix in man, wingless insects, etc.
Types of evolution (based on content):
1. Microevolution: It is series of changes within a species (i.e. evolution at genetic level) due to gene mutations and
accumulation of variations. e.g., evolution of sea urchin, Micraster.
2. Macroevolution: It is the evolution in which texa higher than the level of species are formed (i.e. evolution at species
level) due to major morphological & cytological changes. e.g., evolution of horse, elephant.
3. Megaevolution: It is the evolution in which formation of major texa due to development of new organisation plans (i.e.
evolution at the family, order, class & phylum level). e.g., evolution of reptiles from amphibians.
7| NABIN K. PANDIT
continuous use of neck and limb made the giraffe long necked & long limbed giraffe of today. According to this theory,
the increase in length of neck and forelimbs was an acquired character and it was passed on to the offerings. This
process continued for generations giving rise eventually to modern giraffe with its long neck and forelimbs. This example
explains the effect of regular use of organs.
2. Horse: The ancestors of modern horse left the soft ground of jungles and took to live on dry land. The change in habit
was accompanied by change in length &structure of legs which were suited for fast running over hard ground.
3. Snakes: The limbs are absent in snakes due to effect of disuse of organ. There is no use of such organs due to creeping
habits & lived in burrows. The snakes were originally four limbed animals.
Objection (criticism) of Lamarckism:
1) Mutilation is not inherited. If the limb or finger is mutilated or cut it does not disappear in offspring.
2) Eyes that are used continuously & constantly develop defects instead of being improved.
3) Boring of ears & nose in women has seen continued as a tradition from centuries but their progeny do not show any
trace of holes in ears& nose.
4) The deadliest blow to Lamarck’s theory came from Weismann. He cut the tails of mice continuously for about 20
generation but size of tail was same as of original parents.
Neo-Lamarckism
It is modification of Lamarckism which tends to remove its drawbacks and introduce evidences about the effect of environment
on germ cells and the formation of germ cells from somatic cells. The various propositions of Neo-Lamarckism are
i. The driving force for evolution is environment.
ii. Environment influences an organism to change its heredity.
iii. A number of variations appear in the organisms. Some variations are transmitted to the off-springs.
iv. Internal vital force and appetency do not play any role in evolution.
v. Only those variations passed on to the progeny which influence germ cells or germ cells are formed from somatic cells.
Theory of Germplasm
This theory was given by Weismann (1892). According to this theory, the inheritance of traits from parents to offspring occurs
only through germplasm which also passes from generation to generation. It is also known as theory of continuity of germplasm.
The theory is based on the finding of Weismann that mutilation of somatic parts of the body does not affect heredity. He
removed the tail of mice for 21 generations. The 22nd generation did not find any difference in the size of tail from that of original
parents.
9| NABIN K. PANDIT
DDT the susceptible mosquitoes were killed while resistance mosquitoes started to multiply very fast. Hence, the
population of resistance mosquitoes increased enormously and DDT has no effect on these mosquitoes. This experiment
was an evidence in favour of Natural Selection.
iv. Sickle Cell Anaemia: It is a genetic disorder disease in which the RBCs become sickle shaped and disintegrate. The
person bearing this gene are mostly reported from the area where malaria is very common. It is supposed that when a
RBC in heterozygous person becomes sickle-shaped, it kills the malaria parasite. Therefore, the heterozygous person for
this abnormal haemoglobin can cope better with malarial infection than those person which is homozygous for normal
haemoglobin.
v. Extinction of Dinosaurs: Dinosaurs were dominated in Mesozoic Era because they lead very successful life in that period.
As they did not follow the process of natural selection, the mass extinction occurred.
Objections to Darwin’s theory of natural selection:
i) Darwin’s theory stressed upon small variations but it did not explain the usefulness of an organ in incipient stage
(underdeveloped organ).
ii) It did not explain the effect of use and disuse of organs and the presences of vestigial organs.
iii) He did not differentiate between somatic and germinal variations.
iv) Darwin explained the survival of fittest but not the arrival of the fittest.
v) Natural selection did not explain the over specialization of particular structure.
vi) The pangenesis hypothesis of Darwin was kept in dark.
Evolution of Horse
The evolution of horse was described by O. C. Marsh in 1879. It was evoluted
in Eocene period in North America. There was following changes occurred
during evolution of horse;
1. Increase in the body size.
2. Elongation of head and neck.
3. Lengthening of fore and hind limbs.
4. Reduction in number of toes from four to one.
5. Increase in length and thickness of the third digit.
6. Development of straight and stiff back.
7. Improvement of brain and sense organs.
8. Increase in length and mobility of neck.
9. Specialization teeth for grazing habit.
The evolution of horse is briefly:
1. Eohippus: Eohippus appeared in the early Eocene, about
60 mya (million years ago). It was an animal approximately the size of a fox
(25–45 cm in height), with a relatively short head and neck. It had 44 low-
crowned teeth, in the typical arrangement of an omnivorous, browsing
mammal: three incisors, one canine, four premolars, and three molars on
each side of the jaw. Its limbs were long relative to its body, already showing
the beginnings of adaptations for running. However, all of the major leg
bones were unfused, leaving the legs flexible and rotatable.The forelimbs had
developed five toes, of which four were equipped with small proto-hooves;
the large fifth "toe-thumb" was off the ground. The hind limbs had small
hooves on three out of the five toes, while the vestigial first and fifth toes did
not touch the ground. Its feet were padded, much like a dog's, but with the
small hooves in place of claws.
2. Mesohippus: About 40 million years ago, Eohippuschanged into
Mesohippus during Oligocene epoch. It was like modern sheep, about 60 cm height. Fore feet had three fingers and one splint.
The hind feet had three digits, but middle one was longer than others. Molar teeth were low-crowned.
11 | NABIN K. PANDIT
3. Merychippus: Merychippus (ruminant horse) evolved from Mesohippus in Moicene epoch about 25million years ago.
The size of Merychippus was about 100 cm height like the size of an ass. The neck was longer. The fore and hind limbs had three
digits on each, but 3rd digits were longer. Molar teeth were long crowned and suited for chewing grass.
4. Pliohippus: It was developed from Meryhippus about 10 million years ago in Pliocene epoch. It was similar to the
modern horse except size. The size was 108 cm height at the shoulder. Both fore and limbs had only one functional digit i.e. 3rd.
Two splints 2nd and 4th were present. The molar teeth were high-crowned adapted for grinding grasses.
5. Equus: the modern horse was developed from Pliohippus about 1 million years ago in Pleistocene epoch in North
America. It has only one toe on each foot; two side toes are reduced to splint bones. It has long neck and head. It is about 150 cm
height. It has high crowned molars for grinding grasses. It is cosmopolitan in distribution.
12 | NABIN K. PANDIT
Human & chimpanzee DNA differs in only 1.27% of their nucleotide sequence.
A human haemoglobin molecule and that of chimpanzee differ in only a single amino acid.
3. Hominidae: They were separated from the main line of hominoids about 2.3 million year ago. It is represented by a
single living species modern human (Homo sapiens sapiens)
Similarities between apes and man
No tail, larger head, longer neck and limbs, broad chest large brain & cranial capacity, prominent brow ridges, capacity
of communication, facial expression, live in pairs, menstruation in female and similarities in blood antigens.
Common origin of chimpanzee and man is best shown by chromosomal number and banding pattern.
Difference between apes and man
S. N. Characters Apes Man
1. Habitat Semi-arboreal. Terrestrial.
2. Posture Semi-erect & move on outer edges of feet. Fully erect & plantigrade (move on
palm).
3. Toes Toes in feet are opposable, hence, used for Toes in feet are not opposable.
grasping.
4. Limb size Fore limbs are longer than hind limbs Hind limbs are long & more
developed than fore limbs.
5. Simian gap (between Present. Absent.
incisor & canine)
6. Body hair Long & coarse. Short & soft.
7. Cranial capacity Gibbon-100cc, 1400-1600cc.
Orangutan- 395cc,
Chimpanzee- 400cc,
Gorilla- 520cc.
8. Face Prognathus (Protruding) Orthognathus (Flat)
9. Chin Indistinct Distinct in lower jaw.
10. Power of speech Lacking & less ability to work. Intelligence & can use tools, power
of speech developed.
14 | NABIN K. PANDIT
a. Java man (Homo erectus erectus or Pithecanthropus erectus):
i) Its fossils were recorded by Dubois in 1891 from Central Java (Island of Indonesia).
ii) It had cranial capacity of about 900 cc.
iii) Skull flat, legs long and strong.
iv) Used fire first for cooking, hunting and defence.
v) It was more than 5 feet tall and weight nearly 70 kg.
b. Peking man (Homo erectus pekinensis or Sinanthropus pekinensis):
i) Its fossils were recovered by W. C. Pei (1924) from Peking (Beijing) in China,
ii) It was very similar to Java man,
iii) It had undeveloped chin but developed eye ridges,
iv) Its cranial capacity was larger than Java man i.e. about 1075 cc.
v) First to have omnivorous habit.
vi) Used sharp tools for killing, cutting up animal and defence.
c. Homo erectus heidelbergensis
i) Heidelberg man, Germany
ii) Cranial capacity of about 1300 cc.
iii) Teeth were human like.
16 | NABIN K. PANDIT