Human Ancestor Reconstructed, Halfway Between Chimp And Human
Australopithecus sediba Left: human. Center: Au. sediba. Right: chimpanzee. Lee Berger/ Uni of WitwatersrandA recent descendent of Homo gets a complete skeleton. In 2008, researchers found remains of a few early human-like beings in a cave in South Africa. Now, they've pieced them together into one of the most complete skeletons of a human ancestor ever made. The skeletons belong to a new species of australopithecine, named Australopithecus sediba, discovered for the first time at that cave five years ago. Australopithecines comprise several different species of hominids that roamed Africa from about 4 million to 2 million years ago. They varied in form; some were more chimp-like, some more human like. The new Au. sediba appears to be right in the middle, with chimp-like feet (pigeon-toed, with a small heel) but also walking more upright than apes. It likely lived both on the ground and in trees--the researchers, from several universities around...