Why aren't Peking Man considered Heidelbergenssi?

[Calpalned]

7) Why are peking and java man considered homo

erectus, while the fossils of the same time period (600,000 BC) found

in Europe are considered Heidelbergensis? According to wikipedia,

peking man fossils had brain sizes from 1000 cc to about 1220 cc,

well within the range of Heidebergensis.

 

[Evo]

Hi Calpalned, sorry I couldn't reply earlier, I'm a bit swamped right now, but wanted to get you started. There have been differences of opinion over classification of older hominids. I'm going to start you off with an article that describes the revision in age, and hope to follow up shortly with more about what separates the species.

Peking Man' older than thought

Iconic ancient human fossils from China are 200,000 years older than had previously been thought, a study shows. The new dating analysis suggests the "Peking Man" fossils, unearthed in the caves of Zhoukoudian are some 750,000 years old.

Continued...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7937351.stm

 

[Calpalned]

Hi Calpalned, sorry I couldn't reply earlier

No worries, I'm actually thankful to even have a reply. I realized that my question is quite similar to the one here https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/perhaps-they-are-all-the-same-species.799820/ , where I asked about why erectus, ergaster, heidelbergensis and antecessor, despite having the same basic skull shape (except for increasing brain size) are labeled as different species.

 

[Evo]

They're good questions. It seems to come down to where specimens are found and slight differences.

Some scientists have split H. erectus into three separate species, based on the geographic region in which specimens have been found: H. ergaster (Africa), H. erectus (Asia), and H. heidelbergensis (Europe).

Generally, H. erectus (inclusive) is characterized by large molars, an unpronounced chin, heavy brow ridges, and a long, low skull, relative to modern Homo sapiens. The skeleton of H. erectus was heavier, or "more robust," than the average modern human skeleton. Body proportions vary greatly from individual to individual. "Turkana Boy" was tall and slender, like modern humans from the same area, while the few limb bones found of "Peking Man" indicate a shorter, sturdier build.

(See more below)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/k.html

Wikipedia actually collects information from different sources on Peking man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_Man

 

[Calpalned]

They're good questions. It seems to come down to where specimens are found and slight differences.

(See more below)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/k.html

Wikipedia actually collects information from different sources on Peking man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_Man

I see... In my opinion, it is rather interesting that modern humans from Asia, Europe and Africa are all classified as the same species while homo erectus from those three continents are seperate... Anyway, thanks for the reply, I understand this concept better now.