Unknown Humanlike Relative Found in Ethiopian Fossils

A set of teeth found in Ethiopia may belong to a new Australopithecus species and coexisted with early Homo lineages about 2.6 to 2.8 million years ago.

Unknown Humanlike Relative Found in Ethiopian Fossils

Two fossil teeth from the Ledi-Geraru area of Ethiopia likely belong to a previously unknown Australopithecus species, according to a Nature study. The specimens come from two individuals and date to roughly 2.6 to 2.8 million years ago. At the same site, scientists found three other teeth attributed to early Homo dating to about 2.59 million years ago, a jawbone from a related species identified in 2013, and the potential presence of multiple hominin lineages in East Africa during this period.

Together, the finds suggest that Homo, Paranthropus, Australopithecus garhi, and the newly proposed Australopithecus species may have lived side by side 2.5 to 3.0 million years ago. The researchers have named the new group Ledi-Geraru Australopithecus, though they cautioned that more fossils are needed to formally name the species.

The discovery adds to a growing view that human evolution is not a straight line. Instead, several hominin lineages coexisted in the same region, weaving a complex web of life. The finding also raises questions about how these species partitioned resources and the roles of diet and habitat. As more fossils surface, scientists will refine the timeline and definitions that shape our understanding of ancestry.

This work demonstrates how new sites can recalibrate long-held timelines and reminds us that the map of our origins is still being drawn. The authors stress the need for more fieldwork and training to uncover missing pieces of the story.

Highlights

Future fossils may rewrite this chapter again.