gather, process, present and analyse information to provide an overview of the similarities and differences of any two species used in tracing evolutionary relationships
Choose resources that are suitable for the investigation such as recent publications, popular press articles and the Internet.
These two species overlapped each other in the time scale. In some locations they were thought to live in adjacent caves. Much controversy arises from the disappearance of the Neanderthals. Were they driven to extinction by Homo sapiens or did they interbreed? The table below summarises the similarities and differences between the two species.
Features | Homo neanderthalensis | Homo sapiens |
---|---|---|
chin | no chin | prominent chin |
eye brow ridge | large | small |
cranial capacity | 1400-1750 cc | 1350-1500 cc |
occipital bun | present | absent |
face | mid-face projection | flattened |
body stature | highly muscled, thick bones | slighter build |
cold adaptations | yes | no |
age | 200 000–30 000 years ago | 130 000 to present day. |
culture | complex culture, burial of the dead, tool making | complex culture, burial of the dead, tool making |
These two species share many similarities and at times have been classified as belonging to the same species (Homo sapiens sapiens and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis).
Some similarities include similar body shape, made and used stone tools lived in groups, hunted large prey. Differences include Neanderthals had a larger brain sizes as well as a larger body.
Comparing Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens Smithsonian Institute