Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) factfile

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Homo neanderthalensis, otherwise known as Neanderthals, were probably our closest relatives. Neanderthals were humans but they were a different species from us, Homo sapiens. They evolved in Europe and Asia while we were evolving in Africa.

Fossils are known from the southerly regions of western Eurasia in both glacial and interglacial periods, while mitochondrial DNA data suggest they expanded as far as Siberia at times.

Species detail

Size - Neanderthal adult height averaged about 160cm, and average body mass is estimated at about 60-85kg.
Growth - most data suggest that the Neanderthals had an extended period of growth similar to, or only slightly accelerated compared with, Homo sapiens.
Life Expectancy - skeletal data suggest that it was rare for a Neanderthal to reach 50 years in age.
Physiology - assumed to have been largely similar to that of Homo sapiens, but with the possibility of a somewhat higher metabolic rate.

Behaviour

Find out about the behaviour of this early human species, including its feeding habits and the diseases that it was affected by.
Biology

Homo neanderthalensis is thought to have been largely similar to Homo sapiens. Learn about the average size, growth patterns, life expectancy and physiology of this species.
Distribution and ecology

Discover where Neanderthal fossils are known and the type of habitat the species lived in as well as population trends and feeding patterns.
References

Get reference material for Homo neanderthalensis.
Taxonomy

Learn about the form and structure of Homo neanderthalensis, find out about its evolutionary and genetic history.