Biology · Evolution · NEET
Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis) had the largest brain size at 1400 cc. This is larger than modern Homo sapiens (about 1350 cc). Many students expect the most recent human to have the biggest brain, but NCERT clearly gives Neanderthals 1400 cc, so Neanderthal is the correct answer if a question asks for the largest brain among these four.
Homo habilis = 650-800 cc, Homo erectus = around 900 cc, Neanderthal man = 1400 cc, Homo sapiens = about 1350 cc. These four values are taken straight from NCERT Class XII Chapter 6 (Evolution). NEET has asked a direct match-the-hominid-with-brain-size question, so these numbers are worth full marks.
NCERT simply records that Neanderthal man had a brain size of 1400 cc while modern Homo sapiens is about 1350 cc. Bigger brain volume does not mean higher intelligence; brain organisation and body size also matter. For NEET you only need the values, not a reason. Just remember Neanderthal is the odd case where an older hominid has a slightly larger brain than us.
It increases from Homo habilis (650-800) to Homo erectus (900) to Neanderthal (1400), then drops slightly to Homo sapiens (1350). So the size does NOT keep rising to a peak at modern humans. The peak is at Neanderthal. This small dip is a common NTA trap, so read match questions carefully.
No. NCERT states Homo habilis (brain 650-800 cc) probably did NOT eat meat. Homo erectus, which came later with a larger brain (900 cc), probably ate meat. This diet detail is sometimes combined with brain-size questions, so keep both facts linked.
Match the hominids with their correct brain size: (a) Homo habilis - (i) 900 cc (b) Homo neanderthalensis - (ii) 1350 cc (c) Homo erectus - (iii) 650-800 cc (d) Homo sapiens - (iv) 1400 cc Select the correct option.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Homo habilis had a brain capacity between 650 and 800 cc, according to NCERT. It was the first human-like being (hominid) and probably did not eat meat.
Homo erectus had a large brain of around 900 cc. Its fossils were discovered in Java in 1891, dating to about 1.5 million years ago. Homo erectus probably ate meat.
Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis) had a brain size of 1400 cc, the largest among the hominids in NCERT. They lived in the near east and central Asia between 1,00,000 and 40,000 years ago, used hides to cover their body, and buried their dead.
Modern Homo sapiens has a brain size of about 1350 cc. Homo sapiens arose in Africa and modern humans appeared during the ice age between 75,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Homo habilis has the smallest brain at 650-800 cc, since it is the earliest human-like hominid in the sequence. Brain size then increases through Homo erectus and Neanderthal.
