Evolutionary Biology Collection (#6)

Evolution of man. Artwork depicting man evolving from amoebas, through primitive fish and mammals until reaching its pinnacle with a robot

Fossilised pelvis, Sima de los Huesos. This male Homo heidelbergensis pelvis, nicknamed Elvis, is the only known intact pelvis dating back 400, 000 years

Evolution. Conceptual computer artwork representing the evolution of modern humans (Homo sapiens) from ape-like ancestors

Animal jaw, Gran Dolina. Primitive lower jaw (mandible) of a bovine animal, found in level TD7 of the Gran Dolina site. Gran Dolina is one of several archaeological sites in Sierra de Atapuerca

Dolmen, Sierra de Atapuerca. This Bronze Age dolmen, or portal tomb, was found in the area surrounding Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain (background)

Human evolution. Computer artwork of four stages in human evolution. Comparisons of DNA and fossil records suggest that humans and modern African apes evolved from a common ape-like ancestor (left)

Base of skull 5, Sima de los Huesos. In 1992, the team working with Professor Juan Luis Arsuaga found skull 5 (Miguelon) at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Animal jaw, Galeria. Lower jaw (mandible) of a lion recovered from Galeria. It is thought that Galeria acted as a natural trap and that humans

Fossilised tooth, Gran Dolina. This human tooth, dating back approximately 800, 000 years, was found along with other fossils in level TD6 at the Gran Dolina site between 1994 and 1995

Triassic environment. Artists impression of flora and fauna of the Triassic period including giant labyrintodont amphibian (Paratosuchus sp)

Bone tool, Cueva Mayor. This carved bone tool was used to make holes, in skins for example. Cueva Mayor was first discovered in 1910

Neanderthal skeleton, Kebara Cave, Israel
Neanderthal skeleton. Close-up of the skeleton of a Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) found in the Kebara Cave, Israel, in 1982

Homo floresiensis mandible. Mould made from fragments of the mandible (jaw bone) of Homo floresiensis. This newly discovered hominid species was found in 2003 in Liang Bua cave, Flores, Indonesia

Single-stranded DNA, artwork
Point mutation. Computer artwork of a single strand of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) with a point mutation (illuminated). A point mutation is caused by the replacement of a single base nucleotide (red)

Homo floresiensis skull

Fossilised teeth, Gran Dolina. These human teeth, dating back approximately 800, 000 years, were found in level TD6 at the Gran Dolina site between 1994 and 1995

Carl Linnaeus, Swedish botanist
Carl Linnaeus. Caricature of the Swedish botanist and taxonomist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778). Linnaeus was a great classifier of living organisms

Brontotherium, artwork
Brontotherium. Computer artwork of a Brontotherium on an open plain with birds on its back. This extinct mammal belonged to the same group as horses

Linnaeus and de Jussieu, botanists
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), Swedish botanist and taxonomist (right), meeting French botanist Bernard de Jussieu (centre) in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, France

Charles Lyell, caricature
Charles Lyell (1797-1875). Caricature of the British geologist Charles Lyell, showing him with a large jaw, and bushy hair and sideburns

Jean Lamarck, caricature
Jean Lamarck (1744-1829). Caricature of the French naturalist Jean Lamarck, showing him with a long, drawn face. Lamarck proposed early ideas on evolution

Sir Richard Owen, caricature
Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892). Caricature of the English anatomist and palaeontologist Richard Owen, showing him with a large forehead and jaw, and bushy hair

Artwork of twelve catarrhines, 1870
Twelve catarrhines. Historical artwork of twelve apes and Old World monkeys, from the 1870 edition of Ernst Haeckels The Natural History of Creation. These drawings are not entirely accurate

Jean Lamarck, French naturalist
Jean Lamarck (1744-1829), French naturalist. Lamarck proposed early ideas on evolution and the variation of species in his book Zoological Philosophy (1809)

Brontotherium dinosaur, computer artwork. This dinosaur belonged to the same group as horses, rhinos and tapirs and lived during the Eocene epoch (58 to 30 million years ago)

Primate skulls, 19th century artwork
Primate skulls. 19th century artwork of a human skull (top) and those of four different primates, showing the anatomical differences

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Evolutionary biology, the fascinating study of how species have evolved and adapted over time, encompasses a wide range of captivating topics. From the stages in human evolution to Charles Darwin's groundbreaking work, this field offers profound insights into our origins and the intricate web of life on Earth. At the heart lies Charles Darwin, a British naturalist whose revolutionary ideas forever changed our understanding of life's diversity. His iconic evolutionary tree beautifully illustrates how all living organisms are interconnected through common ancestry. A portrait capturing his intellectual prowess reminds us of his immense contributions to science. Delving deeper into human evolution, we encounter Australopithecus afarensis - an ancient hominid species that walked upright millions of years ago. Through stunning artwork, we can visualize their appearance and understand their place in our ancestral lineage. The female Australopithecus africanus further exemplifies the gradual changes that occurred during our journey from primates to humans. Primate skulls offer tangible evidence showcasing the remarkable variations within different species as they adapted to diverse environments throughout history. These remnants provide crucial clues about our shared heritage with other primates and shed light on key evolutionary processes. As we explore further back in time, we encounter extinct creatures like the mammoth - colossal beasts that roamed prehistoric landscapes thousands of years ago. Their existence serves as a testament to both adaptation and extinction within Earth's ever-changing ecosystems. The image of a scimitar cat attacking a hominid vividly portrays the harsh realities faced by early humans during their struggle for survival against formidable predators. This scene reminds us that every step in human evolution was accompanied by challenges and risks. Artwork depicting various stages in human evolution allows us to envision how physical traits gradually transformed over millennia - from primitive forms resembling apes to modern-day Homo sapiens with distinct cognitive abilities. Intriguingly, Leptictidium represents another branch on nature's evolutionary tree.