Australopithecus afarensis is an extinct species that lived from about 3.9 to 2.9 million years ago in the Pliocene of East Africa. Children of Au. afarensis grew rapidly and reached adulthood earlier than modern humans, resulting in a shorter period of childhood for parental guidance and socialization.

Homo habilis appeared over 2 million years ago, while anatomically modern humans emerged in Africa approximately 300,000 years ago.

Homo erectus is an extinct species of archaic human from the Pleistocene, spanning nearly 2 million years. It is the first human species to evolve a humanlike body plan and gait, to leave Africa and colonize Asia and Europe, and to wield fire.

Neanderthals and modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved from a common ancestor between 700,000 and 300,000 years ago. Neanderthal extinction occurred roughly 40,000 years ago, though some may have persisted in Gibraltar for thousands of years longer. The first recognised Neanderthal fossil, Neanderthal 1, was discovered in 1856 in the Neander Valley, Germany.