Homo naledi
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 1,550 specimens, representing 737 different elements, and at least 15 different people.[2] Despite this exceptionally high number of specimens, their ranking with the Homo genus remains unclear.
| Homo naledi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The 737 known elements of H. naledi | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Hominidae |
| Subfamily: | Homininae |
| Tribe: | Hominini |
| Genus: | Homo |
| Species: | †H. naledi |
| Binomial name | |
| Homo naledi Berger et al., 2015 | |
 | |
| 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]
Comparison of the skull of H. naledi with other small-brained humans (H. habilis, H. erectus, and H. floresiensis)
Gallery
- Skeletal elements
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
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
- 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.
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