eLife· 2015Q1
Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa
- 698citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2015year
Short summary
A new extinct hominin species, Homo naledi, has been discovered in South Africa, characterized by a mosaic of primitive and humanlike features, including a small brain but humanlike hands and feet.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Homo naledi is a new extinct hominin species found in the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa.
- The species has a small endocranial volume (similar to australopiths) but body mass and stature like small-bodied humans.
- It displays humanlike hands and wrists, and a humanlike foot and lower limb.
- Primitive features are present in the trunk, shoulder, pelvis, and proximal femur.
- The discovery includes at least 15 individuals, making it the largest hominin assemblage of a single species found in Africa.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Homo naledi is a previously-unknown species of extinct hominin discovered within the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This species is characterized by body mass and stature similar to small-bodied human populations but a small endocranial volume similar to australopiths. Cranial morphology of H. naledi is unique, but most similar to early Homo species including Homo erectus, Homo habilis or Homo rudolfensis. While primitive, the dentition is generally small and simple in occlusal morphology. H. naledi has humanlike manipulatory adaptations of the hand and wrist. It also exhibits a humanlike foot and lower limb. These humanlike aspects are contrasted in the postcrania with a more primitive or australopith-like trunk, shoulder, pelvis and proximal femur. Representing at least 15 individuals with most skeletal elements repeated multiple times, this is the largest assemblage of a single species of hominins yet discovered in Africa.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. eLife, 2015 · DOI ↗
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Field: Anthropology
AnthropologySocial Sciences