Homo naledi
Ape-like Hominid species.
Homo naledi is a species of archaic human found in the Rising Star Cave, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. The species possibly lived in the Middle Pleistocene 335,000–236,000 years ago.[1] The initial discovery comprises 1,569 specimens, representing 737 different elements, and at least 69 different people.[2] Despite this exceptionally high number of specimens, their ranking with the Homo genus remains unclear.
| Homo naledi Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene
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| The 737 known elements of H. naledi | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Hominidae |
| Subfamily: | Homininae |
| Tribe: | Hominini |
| Genus: | Homo |
| Species: | †H. naledi
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| Binomial name | |
| Homo naledi Berger et al., 2015
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| Location of Rising Star Cave in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa | |
Even though it is in the Homo genus, they have some similarities with the Australopithecus genus and the first human species. For example, they have a small brain compared to modern humans.[3] They were more adapted to climbing and tree-dwelling (aboreal) than running through long distances.[4]
Gallery
change- Skeletal elements
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Top skull digital reconstruction -
Jaws of LES1 (left) and DH1 (right) -
Upper jawbone of LES1 (left) and DH1 (right) -
A lower jawbone -
A clavicle -
A humerus -
An ulna -
Metacarpals from different specimens -
10th thoracic vertebra -
11th thoracic vertebra -
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A femur -
A tibia -
Ankle bones from different specimens -
1) adult right foot, 2) juvenile left, 3 and 4) adult left, 5) juvenile right
References
change- ↑ Dirks, Paul HGM; Roberts, Eric M; Hilbert-Wolf, Hannah; Kramers, Jan D; Hawks, John; Dosseto, Anthony; Duval, Mathieu; Elliott, Marina; Evans, Mary (2017). "The age of Homo naledi and associated sediments in the Rising Star Cave, South Africa". eLife. 6. doi:10.7554/eLife.24231. ISSN 2050-084X. PMC 5423772. PMID 28483040.
- ↑ Berger, Lee R; Hawks, John; de Ruiter, Darryl J; Churchill, Steven E; Schmid, Peter; Delezene, Lucas K; Kivell, Tracy L; Garvin, Heather M; Williams, Scott A (2015-09-10). Krause, Johannes; Conard, Nicholas J (eds.). "Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa". eLife. 4: e09560. doi:10.7554/eLife.09560. ISSN 2050-084X. PMC 4559886. PMID 26354291.
- ↑ Smith, Kiona N. (2018-05-14). "Homo naledi's brain: Like ours, but smaller". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
- ↑ "New Human Ancestor Walked Like Us, Climbed Like an Ape". Animals. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2021-04-08.