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New hominin genus from eastern Africa shows diverse middle Pliocene lineages

Author

Listed:
  • Meave G. Leakey

    (National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658)

  • Fred Spoor

    (University College London)

  • Frank H. Brown

    (University of Utah)

  • Patrick N. Gathogo

    (University of Utah)

  • Christopher Kiarie

    (National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658)

  • Louise N. Leakey

    (National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658)

  • Ian McDougall

    (Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University)

Abstract

Most interpretations of early hominin phylogeny recognize a single early to middle Pliocene ancestral lineage, best represented by Australopithecus afarensis, which gave rise to a radiation of taxa in the late Pliocene. Here we report on new fossils discovered west of Lake Turkana, Kenya, which differ markedly from those of contemporary A. afarensis, indicating that hominin taxonomic diversity extended back, well into the middle Pliocene. A 3.5 Myr-old cranium, showing a unique combination of derived facial and primitive neurocranial features, is assigned to a new genus of hominin. These findings point to an early diet-driven adaptive radiation, provide new insight on the association of hominin craniodental features, and have implications for our understanding of Plio–Pleistocene hominin phylogeny.

Suggested Citation

  • Meave G. Leakey & Fred Spoor & Frank H. Brown & Patrick N. Gathogo & Christopher Kiarie & Louise N. Leakey & Ian McDougall, 2001. "New hominin genus from eastern Africa shows diverse middle Pliocene lineages," Nature, Nature, vol. 410(6827), pages 433-440, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:410:y:2001:i:6827:d:10.1038_35068500
    DOI: 10.1038/35068500
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas W. Davies & Philipp Gunz & Fred Spoor & Zeresenay Alemseged & Agness Gidna & Jean-Jacques Hublin & William H. Kimbel & Ottmar Kullmer & William P. Plummer & Clément Zanolli & Matthew M. Skinner, 2024. "Dental morphology in Homo habilis and its implications for the evolution of early Homo," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.

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