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https://doi.org/10.1515/anre-2015-0009
https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1175802
The discovery of fossil hominins named Ardipithecus ramidus or Ardi has significantly advanced our understanding of human evolution.
Ardi roamed lush forests and woodlands in Ethiopia around 4.5 million years ago, while its predecessor, Ardipithecus kadabba, trod the same Ethiopian terrain some 5.8 to 5.2 million years ago, laying the groundwork for the evolution of us.
The adventure began in 1992 when a tantalizing hominin molar was discovered near Aramis village in Ethiopia's Afar Region. This find sparked the excavation of Ardipithecus ramidus by the Middle Awash research led by Tim White and his colleagues. Throughout three thrilling field seasons, they collected over 110 Ardipithecus ramidus specimens, painting a vivid picture of our ancient ancestors.
Ardi's skull, adorned with distinctive features reminiscent of early human evolution, serves as a captivating time capsule. It echoes the characteristics of other ancient hominins like Sahelanthropus tchadensis, and Orrorin tugenensis, providing tantalizing clues about our evolutionary origins.
These groundbreaking discoveries challenge the traditional narrative of human origins, shaking up long-held beliefs and breathing new life into the study of our past.
Ardipithecus ramidus, a resilient survivor from the Miocene era, bridges the gap between ancient apes and later hominids, offering a glimpse into a pivotal moment in our evolutionary history.
Unlike its modern ape counterparts, Ardipithecus ramidus navigated its world without specialized climbing abilities, opting instead to forage in the lower canopy for sustenance and safety. This fascinating creature unlocks the secrets of upright walking, a defining trait of our hominin lineage, surpassing even the iconic Lucy in its significance.
The female skeleton of Ardipithecus ramidus differs from chimpanzees, gorillas, and other primate relatives, representing a new type of early hominin. While Ardipithecus ramidus may have led to Lucy's genus, Australopithecus, these fossils reveal a novel evolutionary grade of hominid that doesn't fit neatly into existing categories.
Ardipithecus and other ancient hominins represent a significant evolutionary leap towards Australopithecus, with Ardipithecus ramidus serving as a precursor to Lucy's direct ancestor, Au. anamensis.
While her foot retains a primitive opposable big toe, the other toes are adapted for bipedalism, providing a rigid lever for pushing off while walking. Ardi's pelvis is also adapted for bipedalism, with shorter, broader blades lowering her center of mass for balanced walking. Despite these adaptations, Ardipithecus ramidus still exhibits primitive traits in the lower pelvis, indicating it spent significant time in trees. However, it likely didn't walk like Lucy; instead, it was a slow, careful climber, moving on flat hands and feet in the mid-canopy. Ardi's wrist bones allowed for more flexibility, unlike the stiff wrists of knuckle-walking chimpanzees and gorillas. |