Ardipithecus

Early bipedal ancestor

Ardipithecus is a genus of early hominids that lived in Africa roughly 4.4 to 5.8 million years ago, predating the more famous Australopithecus.

The best-known specimen, nicknamed "Ardi," shows a mix of ape-like and human-like features—suggesting these creatures walked upright but also climbed trees.

Ardipithecus represents some of the earliest evidence of the human lineage after it split from the ancestors of chimpanzees.

taxonomy

hominid

Bipedal primate family

homininHuman or direct ancestor
primateHigher mammal order member
MiocenePre-Pliocene geological epoch

Pliocene · genus · species · ape · ancestor · fossil · classification · phylogeny · clade · great apes

evolution

bipedalism

Walking on two limbs

common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
human originsStudy of mankind's emergence
missing linkUndiscovered ancestral connection

adaptation · transitional · terrestrial · arboreal · divergence · chimpanzee · speciation · selection · trait · mosaic

paleontology

fossil

Preserved ancient organism

EthiopiaHorn of Africa nation
excavationAct of unearthing
skeletonInternal supportive framework

Aramis · specimen · discovery · sediment · stratigraphy · dating · radiometric · site · dig · reconstruction

anatomy

bipedal

Having two feet

pelvisBony basin at waist
skullHead's bone casing
teethEnamel-covered chewing structures

canines · skeleton · posture · brain size · enamel · mandible · femur · foot · hand · opposable

researchers

paleoanthropology

Science of ancestral human remains

BerkeleyBay Area university city
analysisMethodical study of parts
publicationIssued written material

interpretation · debate · hypothesis · reconstruction · study · research · findings · announcement · controversy

Ardipithecus

hominid

bipedalism

fossil

bipedal

paleoanthropology

Ardipithecus

Opposites

Categories

Family