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.

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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.

Source : Indian Express