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Ethiopian Fossils Represent New Member of Human Family Tree
Ethiopian Fossils Represent New Member of Human Family Tree
Dental differences suggest they had different diets, meaning they may not have competed
for the same resources. Another human relative, Kenyanthropus platyops, also lived
relatively nearby in Kenya.
Our species, Homo sapiens, appeared 200,000 years ago. The earliest known member of
our genus lived 2.8 million years ago. Scientists previously had argued there was only
one human ancestor at any time between 4 and 3 million years ago, each giving rise to
another new species.
"The story is becoming more complicated as more branches are added to the human
phylogenetic tree," Melillo said.
(Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Paul Simao)