Experts name new species of human ancestor (Homo bodoensis)

[Eugene]

Source: University of Winnepeg

OCTOBER 28, 2021

Experts name new species of human ancestor

by The University of Winnipeg

An international team of researchers, led by University of Winnipeg palaeoanthropologist Dr. Mirjana Roksandic, has announced the naming of a new species of human ancestor, Homo bodoensis. This species lived in Africa during the Middle Pleistocene, around half a million years ago, and was the direct ancestor of modern humans.

The Middle Pleistocene (now renamed Chibanian and dated to 774,000–129,000 years ago) is important because it saw the rise of our own species (Homo sapiens) in Africa, our closest relatives, and the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) in Europe.

However, human evolution during this age is poorly understood, a problem which paleoanthropologists call "the muddle in the middle." The announcement of Homo bodoensis hopes to bring some clarity to this puzzling, but important chapter in human evolution.

The new name is based on a reassessment of existing fossils from Africa and Eurasia from this time period. Traditionally, these fossils have been variably assigned to either Homo heidelbergensis or Homo rhodesiensis, both of which carried multiple, often contradictory definitions.

-snip-

Read more: https://phys.org/news/2021-10-experts-species-human-ancestor.html


Artist rendering of Homo bodoensis. Credit: Ettore Mazza

[rickyhall]

1. Wasn't he at the 1/6 Rally?

[DFW]

3. Don't you recognize him? Was it THAT long ago?

Cut the hair and add some grey.

That is our 43rd president.

[RainCaster]

4. That would be 'homo trumpass'

Slightly more tangerine in color, but still a mouth breather.

[DFW]

5. That would be 45

I said 43

[RainCaster]

6. Oops, my bad.

I bought a coffee mug from here during that administration.

"My parents voted republican and all I got was this stupid president"

[pandr32]

2. So awesome

I love how Science is exciting with new discoveries throwing monkey wrenches into what we already believed constantly.

[wnylib]

7. Or ape wrenches, in this case.