Ethiopian fossils reveal new species in human evolutionary lineage
The scientists discovered in the Ledi-Geraru research project area of northeastern Ethiopia's Afar Region 10 teeth — six molars, two incisors, one premolar and one canine — that they concluded belonged to a new Australopithecus species. The teeth came from two individuals.
Until now, six species of the genus Australopithecus, an important early human ancestor that displayed a mix of ape-like and human-like traits, were known from fossils at various African sites. The researchers said the newly found teeth bore traits indicating they belonged to a seventh species.
A genus is a group of closely related species that share similar characteristics. For example, lions and tigers are from the same genus but represent different species.
The scientists also discovered three other teeth dating to 2.59-million years ago that had traits showing they belonged to the oldest-known species of Homo, one that was first revealed by a jawbone unearthed in the same vicinity in 2013.
Scientists have not yet assigned names to the Australopithecus and Homo species represented by these 13 teeth because of the incomplete nature of the fossil remains. Our species, Homo sapiens, is the most recent member of the Homo genus, first appearing roughly 300,000 years ago in Africa before later spreading worldwide.
The new dental fossils provide insight into a poorly understood period in human evolution. The close age of the teeth suggests that this newly identified Australopithecus species coexisted in this region with the early Homo species, raising questions about whether they competed for the same resources.
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