Evolution Timeline

LUCA, or the Last Universal Common Ancestor, is the earliest form of life on Earth.

Single-celled organisms without a nucleus. They were the dominant form of life for billions of years.

Photosynthetic bacteria that produced oxygen as a byproduct, dramatically changing Earth's atmosphere.

Complex cells with a nucleus and organelles. All modern complex life evolved from these organisms.

Single-celled organisms that are the closest living relatives to animals. They can form colonies, suggesting a transition to multicellularity.

Early chordate showing the basic body plan that would lead to vertebrates.

One of the earliest known vertebrates, showing primitive features of fish.

Early vertebrate showing development of key features like a notochord and gill pouches.

Jawless fish, representing some of the earliest vertebrates. Modern lampreys are their living relatives.

Armored fish with jaws, showing the evolution of predatory behavior in vertebrates.

Lobe-finned fish that still exists today, showing features that would later enable the transition to land.

Fish showing early adaptations for land movement, with stronger fins and a more robust skull.

A crucial transitional fossil between fish and tetrapods, with features of both groups.

Early tetrapod with limbs but still primarily aquatic, showing early stages of land adaptation.

Early tetrapod with strong shoulder girdle, suggesting improved ability for land movement.

Six-toed tetrapod showing early diversity in limb development.

Early tetrapod showing adaptations for more efficient terrestrial locomotion.

One of the earliest known amniotes, showing adaptations for fully terrestrial life.

Early synapsid showing the beginning of mammal-like features.

One of the earliest known reptiles, adapted for life in forest canopies.

Large sail-backed synapsid, showing advanced mammal-like features.

Therapsid showing further development of mammalian characteristics.

Advanced therapsid with specialized predatory adaptations.

Cynodont showing many mammalian features including possible whiskers.

Advanced cynodont very close to true mammals in anatomy.

One of the earliest true mammals, showing advanced jaw and ear features.

Early eutherian mammal, ancestor of all placental mammals.

Large mammal that lived alongside dinosaurs, showing early mammalian diversity.

Early primate-like mammal showing some features of later primates.

Small arboreal mammal showing adaptations for grasping branches.

Early anthropoid showing features of both Old World monkeys and apes.

Early ape showing a mix of monkey and ape features.

Possible ancestor of orangutans, showing early great ape features.

European great ape possibly related to both gorillas and humans.

Early hominin showing evidence of bipedal walking.

Early hominin with both tree-climbing and walking adaptations.

Fully bipedal hominin with a mix of ape and human features.

First human species to leave Africa, with advanced tool use and fire control.

Close human relative with sophisticated culture and technology.

Modern humans with advanced cognitive abilities and complex culture.