afarensis, while others were more related to more primitive ancestral groups such as
Ardipithecus and Sahelantropus.
Some characteristics were shared with later species, while others had more in common with those of even older and more primitive early human ancestor groups such as
Ardipithecus and Sahelanthropus.
However, scientists say the primitive cranial morphology links this fossil to even more ancient hominins, such as Sahelanthropus and
Ardipithecus, and casts doubt on previous assumptions about a direct link to the younger Australopithecus afarensis.
In fact, the loss of megaherbivores begins 4.6 million years ago, a time when the only known hominin is
Ardipithecus -- a small-brained and ape-like human ancestor that lacked stone tools and at best hunted small prey like modern-day chimpanzees.
Unfortunately, even the major Arabic language media at times interpret new scientific discoveries as discrediting Darwin, as happened in a posting on al-Jazeera reporting on the early hominid known as
Ardipithecus (al-Jazeera, 2009).
Pyne acknowledges that some experts might quibble with her list--Ardi the
Ardipithecus (SN.: 1/16/10, p.
More recent finds of
Ardipithecus, an early hominin have led Lovejoy (2009) to effectively recast similar claims about a role of male provisioning and a sexual division of labor originating around five million years ago in Africa.
7 ( ANI ): A new breakthrough has allowed scientists to expand the catalogue of anatomical similarities linking humans, Australopithecus, and
Ardipithecus on the tree of life.