MRD

Aug. 30, 2019

Scientists announced the landmark discovery in Ethiopia of a nearly complete skull of an early human ancestor that lived 3.8 million years ago, a species boasting an intriguing mixture of apelike and human like characteristics.

About: 

  • The fossil dubbed MRD, belongs to the species Australopithecus anamensis, which first appeared roughly 4.2 million years ago.

  • This species is considered the direct ancestor of the species Australopithecus afarensis (nicknamed Lucy), earthed in 1974 in Ethiopia. Lucy dates from about 3.2 million years ago.

  • It dates back to a time when our ancestors were emerging from the trees to walk on two legs, but still had distinctly ape-like protruding faces, powerful jaws and small brains, and is the oldest-known member of the Australopithecus group.

  • MRD’s species, which was bipedal but may also have been able to move around in trees, was much smaller than modern humans.

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