Common link between apes and man was

Options

A. Dryopithecus
B. Homo erectus
C. Australopithecus
D. Homo neanderthalensis

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks for the common link between apes and humans. This implies looking for a species or ancestor that connects both groups in evolutionary terms.

2. **Identifying the Options**: The options provided are Dryopithecus, Homo erectus, Australopithecus, and Homo neanderthalensis. Each of these is a hominin or an ancestor related to humans.

3. **Analyzing the Common Ancestor**:
- **Dryopithecus**: An early ape that lived around 12 to 9 million years ago, but not directly a link to humans.
- **Australopithecus**: An early hominin that showed some bipedal traits but is not the most direct link.
- **Homo neanderthalensis**: Neanderthals are closely related to modern humans but are not a direct link to apes.
- **Homo erectus**: This species is known as the "upright man" and is considered a direct ancestor of modern humans. It exhibited traits that are more similar to humans than to apes.

4. **Supporting Evidence**:
- **Genetic Evidence**: Studies show that Homo erectus shares a significant amount of genetic material with modern humans.
- **Anatomical Evidence**: Homo erectus had a more human-like skull and body structure compared to apes.
- **Embryological Evidence**: Developmental similarities can be observed between Homo erectus and modern humans.

5. **Historical Context**: Homo erectus first appeared around 2 million years ago during the Pleistocene epoch and was the first hominin to spread out of Africa into other parts of the world.

6. **Conclusion**: Based on the analysis and evidence, the common link between apes and man is **Homo erectus**.

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