Latest news with #Ledi-Geraru
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
Coexisting ancestors: Fossil teeth in Ethiopia reveal early Homo and Australopithecus coexisted 2.6 million years ago, reshaping understanding of human evolution
ADDIS ABABA, Aug 14 — Researchers have unearthed tooth fossils in Ethiopia dating to about 2.65 million years ago of a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage, one that lived in the same time and place as the earliest-known member of the genus Homo to which our own species belongs. The scientists discovered in the Ledi-Geraru research project area of north-eastern 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. The teeth also indicate that there were four hominins — as species in the human evolutionary lineage are known — that inhabited East Africa at the time. Previous fossils showed that another Australopithecus species and a species of Paranthropus, a hominin possessing a specialised skull adapted for heavy chewing, lived in East Africa during this time. An additional Australopithecus species also inhabited southern Africa, bringing the number of hominins then on the continent to five. The presence of these contemporaneous hominins illustrates the complicated nature of the human evolutionary process. 'This reinforces the idea that the story of human evolution is not of a single lineage changing slowly through time,' said University of Nevada, Las Vegas paleoanthropologist Brian Villmoare, lead author of the research published yesterday in the journal Nature. 'Rather, the pattern of human evolution is similar to that of other organisms, repeatedly branching into multiple species throughout the fossil record, many of whom lived at the same time,' Villmoare added. The researchers are seeking clues about the nature of any interaction between the Australopithecus and Homo species represented by the 13 teeth. 'We are currently analysing teeth to see if we can tell if they ate the same thing,' said Arizona State University paleoecologist and project co-director Kaye Reed. Scientists scour the landscape for fossils in the Ledi-Geraru paleoanthropological research area in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia, in this undated handout picture released on August 13, 2025. Thirteen tooth fossils of the genus Homo and the genus Australopithecus unearthed in this area shed new light on human evolution. — Kaye Reed, Arizona State University handout pic via Reuters If so, they may have fought over resources, Reed said. Crude stone tools dating to about the same time were previously discovered nearby, Reed said, probably made by the Homo species. The researchers determined the age of the teeth using a technique that dated feldspar crystals contained in volcanic ash in the sediments where they were discovered based on radioactive decay of the element argon. The Afar Region, one of Earth's hottest and lowest places, is an arid expanse of badlands. But at the time of these species, rivers flowed across a vegetated landscape into shallow lakes in a landscape populated by a splendid array of animals. These included giraffes, horses, pigs, elephants, hippos and antelopes as well as predators such as sabre-toothed cats and hyenas. Homo is generally thought to have descended from a species of Australopithecus, though the exact species and the timing have been a matter of debate. Australopithecus eventually died out. Australopithecus includes the famous fossil Lucy, who was a member of the species Australopithecus afarensis who lived approximately 3.18 million years ago. Lucy's remains were discovered in 1974, also in the Afar Region. The newly discovered teeth had characteristics that showed they did not belong to Lucy's species, the researchers said. 'This new Australopithecus species is in no way some 'missing link,' and we actually don't think that it was necessarily ancestral to any known species,' Villmoare said. 'Species arose and many went extinct,' Reed said. 'Each find is a piece of the puzzle that puts human evolution into a twiggy tree, rather than a linear graphic.' — Reuters
CNA
5 days ago
- Science
- CNA
Ethiopian fossils reveal new species in human evolutionary lineage
Researchers have unearthed tooth fossils in Ethiopia dating to about 2.65 million years ago of a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage, one that lived in the same time and place as the earliest-known member of the genus Homo to which our own species belongs. 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. The teeth also indicate that there were four hominins - as species in the human evolutionary lineage are known - that inhabited East Africa at the time. Previous fossils showed that another Australopithecus species and a species of Paranthropus, a hominin possessing a specialized skull adapted for heavy chewing, lived in East Africa during this time. An additional Australopithecus species also inhabited southern Africa, bringing the number of hominins then on the continent to five. The presence of these contemporaneous hominins illustrates the complicated nature of the human evolutionary process. "This reinforces the idea that the story of human evolution is not of a single lineage changing slowly through time," said University of Nevada, Las Vegas paleoanthropologist Brian Villmoare, lead author of the research published on Wednesday in the journal Nature. "Rather, the pattern of human evolution is similar to that of other organisms, repeatedly branching into multiple species throughout the fossil record, many of whom lived at the same time," Villmoare added. The researchers are seeking clues about the nature of any interaction between the Australopithecus and Homo species represented by the 13 teeth. "We are currently analyzing teeth to see if we can tell if they ate the same thing," said Arizona State University paleoecologist and project co-director Kaye Reed. If so, they may have fought over resources, Reed said. Crude stone tools dating to about the same time were previously discovered nearby, Reed said, probably made by the Homo species. The researchers determined the age of the teeth using a technique that dated feldspar crystals contained in volcanic ash in the sediments where they were discovered based on radioactive decay of the element argon. The Afar Region, one of Earth's hottest and lowest places, is an arid expanse of badlands. But at the time of these species, rivers flowed across a vegetated landscape into shallow lakes in a landscape populated by a splendid array of animals. These included giraffes, horses, pigs, elephants, hippos and antelopes as well as predators such as saber-toothed cats and hyenas. Homo is generally thought to have descended from a species of Australopithecus, though the exact species and the timing have been a matter of debate. Australopithecus eventually died out. Australopithecus includes the famous fossil Lucy, who was a member of the species Australopithecus afarensis who lived approximately 3.18 million years ago. Lucy's remains were discovered in 1974, also in the Afar Region. The newly discovered teeth had characteristics that showed they did not belong to Lucy's species, the researchers said. "This new Australopithecus species is in no way some 'missing link,' and we actually don't think that it was necessarily ancestral to any known species," Villmoare said. "Species arose and many went extinct," Reed said. "Each find is a piece of the puzzle that puts human evolution into a twiggy tree, rather than a linear graphic."
Reuters
5 days ago
- Science
- Reuters
Ethiopian fossils reveal new species in human evolutionary lineage
Aug 13 (Reuters) - Researchers have unearthed tooth fossils in Ethiopia dating to about 2.65 million years ago of a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage, one that lived in the same time and place as the earliest-known member of the genus Homo to which our own species belongs. 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. The teeth also indicate that there were four hominins - as species in the human evolutionary lineage are known - that inhabited East Africa at the time. Previous fossils showed that another Australopithecus species and a species of Paranthropus, a hominin possessing a specialized skull adapted for heavy chewing, lived in East Africa during this time. An additional Australopithecus species also inhabited southern Africa, bringing the number of hominins then on the continent to five. The presence of these contemporaneous hominins illustrates the complicated nature of the human evolutionary process. "This reinforces the idea that the story of human evolution is not of a single lineage changing slowly through time," said University of Nevada, Las Vegas paleoanthropologist Brian Villmoare, lead author of the research published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, opens new tab. "Rather, the pattern of human evolution is similar to that of other organisms, repeatedly branching into multiple species throughout the fossil record, many of whom lived at the same time," Villmoare added. The researchers are seeking clues about the nature of any interaction between the Australopithecus and Homo species represented by the 13 teeth. "We are currently analyzing teeth to see if we can tell if they ate the same thing," said Arizona State University paleoecologist and project co-director Kaye Reed. If so, they may have fought over resources, Reed said. Crude stone tools dating to about the same time were previously discovered nearby, Reed said, probably made by the Homo species. The researchers determined the age of the teeth using a technique that dated feldspar crystals contained in volcanic ash in the sediments where they were discovered based on radioactive decay of the element argon. The Afar Region, one of Earth's hottest and lowest places, is an arid expanse of badlands. But at the time of these species, rivers flowed across a vegetated landscape into shallow lakes in a landscape populated by a splendid array of animals. These included giraffes, horses, pigs, elephants, hippos and antelopes as well as predators such as saber-toothed cats and hyenas. Homo is generally thought to have descended from a species of Australopithecus, though the exact species and the timing have been a matter of debate. Australopithecus eventually died out. Australopithecus includes the famous fossil Lucy, who was a member of the species Australopithecus afarensis who lived approximately 3.18 million years ago. Lucy's remains were discovered in 1974, also in the Afar Region. The newly discovered teeth had characteristics that showed they did not belong to Lucy's species, the researchers said. "This new Australopithecus species is in no way some 'missing link,' and we actually don't think that it was necessarily ancestral to any known species," Villmoare said. "Species arose and many went extinct," Reed said. "Each find is a piece of the puzzle that puts human evolution into a twiggy tree, rather than a linear graphic."
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Missing chapter of human evolution dating back 2.8 million years uncovered in Africa
A lost chapter in human evolution has been discovered among a collection of teeth which dates back 2.8 million years. Researchers from Arizona State University announced that they have found a previously unknown species of ancient humans which appear to have coexisted with members of the genus Homo, our direct ancestors, in Africa. The team added that this era, between 2.6 and 2.8 million years ago, was a critical period in human evolution because it marks the earliest appearance of the Homo species ever found. Researchers also discovered the oldest known stone tools at the Ledi-Geraru site in the Afar region of Ethiopia. In 2013, another team unearthed a 2.8-million-year-old Homo jawbone at the same site. However, the 13 teeth uncovered here recently do not belong to our direct ancestors. Instead, the research team found that they came from a new member of the Australopithecus species, a group closely related to modern humans who lived in Africa between two and four million years ago. Unlike previous fossils from the species Australopithecus afarensis, these teeth were noticeably different, showing that a new evolution of early humans developed in this region and overlapped with members of our family tree. Researchers said this lost Australopithecus species suggests that human evolution was complex, with multiple species coexisting, not just a simple progression from ape to human. The most famous member of the Australopithecus afarensis species has been a fossil named 'Lucy,' whose fossil skeleton was discovered in 1974 in Hadar, Ethiopia. Australopithecus walked upright, a key human trait, but examinations of skull fragments have found they had smaller brains and ape-like features, such as larger teeth and robust jaws for chewing tough plants. However, researchers have not been able to find any fossils at the Ledi-Geraru site which match Lucy's species. The differences in the 13 Australopithecus teeth unearthed there, along with the presence of the Homo species, suggests that Lucy's species did live beyond 2.95 million years ago. ASU paleoecologist Kaye Reed said: 'This new research shows that the image many of us have in our minds of an ape to a Neanderthal to a modern human is not correct — evolution doesn't work like that.' 'Here we have two hominin species that are together. And human evolution is not linear, it's a bushy tree, there are life forms that go extinct,' Reed added in a statement. The 'bushy tree' theory Reed mentioned refers to the concept of multiple early human species living simultaneously in ancient times. Some would go extinct while others would lead to the development of modern humans, like the species Homo. Researchers added that the new fossils don't represent a single 'missing link' but rather show evidence of diverse overlapping during this evolutionary period. 'We know what the teeth and mandible of the earliest Homo look like, but that's it,' Reed explained. 'This emphasizes the critical importance of finding additional fossils to understand the differences between Australopithecus and Homo, and potentially how they were able to overlap in the fossil record at the same location,' the study author continued. The genus Homo includes modern humans and our closest extinct relatives. The Ledi-Geraru Homo fossils, including the new teeth and the previously found jawbone, revealed that early Homo individuals likely had slightly larger brains and smaller teeth than Australopithecus. This suggests that the human diet was already shifting millions of years ago towards more meat or softer plants than Lucy's species ate. These humans also learned to use primitive tools, which the ASU researchers also found at the site. The fossils' age was determined by dating volcanic ash layers containing feldspar crystals, a method that pinpoints the time of eruptions sandwiching the fossils. The Ledi-Geraru landscape, once a vegetated area with rivers and lakes, was much different than today's arid badlands. The ASU team noted that future research will focus on tooth enamel to explore diet and potential interactions between the Homo and Australopithecus, such as whether these species competed for food or peacefully lived in different ecological regions of Africa.
