We Just Got Evidence of a Mysterious New Species of Early Human Hiding in Plain Sight

[Judi Lynn]

CARLY CASSELLA 8 DEC 2018

One of the best-known fossils in paleontology, a virtually complete skeleton nicknamed "Little Foot", could actually represent an entirely new species of early human, scientists have announced.

The fossil was first discovered more than 20 years ago, and after decades of careful extraction and research, an analysis of the age, skull and limbs has finally been published.

While the results have yet to be peer reviewed, a series of four pre-printed papers suggests that Little Foot could be a species of Australopithecus we have never seen before.

In fact, the authors think this fossil may be one of the earliest signs of human-like walking ever found, an important stepping stone in our journey from the trees to the ground.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-new-species-of-early-human-has-been-sitting-under-our-noses-for-20-years

[JudyM]

1. How interesting.

Painstaking work and how many grad students over these years?