Terrestrial human
Terrestrial humans are the species Homo sapiens, the only surviving lineage of the genus Homo native to Earth. They are distinguished by their fully terrestrial evolution, global distribution, and complex cultures.[citation needed]
Taxonomy and classification
Terrestrial humans belong to the tribe Hominini within the subfamily Homininae of the family Hominidae (great apes). They diverged from other hominins around 300,000 years ago and are characterized by a large braincase, reduced dentition, and advanced tool use.[citation needed]
Anatomy and physiology
Terrestrial humans exhibit:
- Upright bipedalism with adaptations in the pelvis and lower limbs for endurance walking and running.[citation needed]
- A cranial capacity averaging ~1,350 cm3, supporting advanced cognitive abilities.[citation needed]
- Variable skin pigmentation as an adaptation to different levels of ultraviolet radiation across geographies.[citation needed]
Sensory systems
They possess trichromatic vision, acute depth perception, and a broad auditory range (20–20,000 Hz), enabling complex speech perception.[citation needed]
Distribution and habitat
Terrestrial humans inhabit all continents except Antarctica (excluding research stations). Their adaptive range spans tropical rainforests, savannas, temperate forests, deserts, high-altitude plateaus, and urban environments.[citation needed]
Migration history
Genetic and archaeological evidence indicates an origin in Africa approximately 300,000 years ago, with subsequent dispersals into Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas via inland and coastal routes.[citation needed]
Culture and society
Human societies range from nomadic hunter-gatherer bands to complex industrialized states. Common features include:
- Use of symbolic language—over 7,000 languages in multiple families such as Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan.[citation needed]
- Artistic expression through visual arts, music, dance, and literature.[citation needed]
- Development of technologies from stone tools to digital computing and space travel.[citation needed]
History and evolution
Paleolithic era
Early humans crafted simple stone tools (Oldowan, Acheulean) and created symbolic art by at least 70,000 years ago.[citation needed]
Neolithic revolution
Beginning ~10,000 BCE, independent centers of agriculture emerged, leading to settled villages, population growth, and social stratification.[citation needed]
Modern era
The invention of writing (~3,200 BCE), metallurgy, and the Industrial Revolution radically transformed terrestrial human societies, culminating in global interconnectedness and rapid technological advancement.[citation needed]
See also
- Breakaway civilization
- Cryptoterrestrial hypothesis
- Extraterrestrial life
- Human evolution
- Prehistoric technology
- Speculative fiction