Findings of Human Fossils - Essay Example

On the latest record, three groups are belonging to human ancestry.
One of the species that can be related to humans is the Sahelanthropus tchadensis sp. nov. with the specimen found in Chad specifically the Djurab Desert and commonly called ‘Toumai.’ The particular specimen was tentatively recognized to exist 6 to 7 million years ago (Brunet et. al. 146). The find had been astonishing according to NPR’s interview with David Kestenbaum who expressed that compared to Lucy with protruding facial anatomy which he referred to as snout, Toumai or the Sahelanthropus tchadensis sp. nov. already had a flat face which is very similar to the appearance of the humans in the modern time. This is remarkable because the fossil is significantly older than the group to which Lucy belongs, which is the A. afarensis.

Compared to living apes, Sahelanthropus has ‘smaller canines and apical wear and a full occlusion.’ It is also very distinct from other recorded hominids and related genera. With other related specimens, the S. tchadensis sp. nov. has a tall facial feature with a ‘massive brow ridge’ and a short mid-face (Brunet et. al. 147). The braincase indicated a brain with the same size as the Pan but smaller than that of the Gorilla and the Australopithecus (Brunet et. al. 148).
The particular find is significant in the achievement of a clearer view of human evolution and the fact that more hominids co-existed in the early part of history, one of which can be the direct ancestor of present-day humans.

The Ardipithecus ramidus is another close ancestor of humans based on being classified as a hominid and related to the species Australopithecus anamensis. The manner of bipedalism is still needed to be cleared through further discoveries of similar specimens. The brain is small or ‘pint-sized’ (Lemonick and Dorfman part 3 par. 3-6). On the other hand, the Australopithecus anamensis is recognized as a direct descendant of the A. afarensis which Lucy belongs. The said species is bi-pedal and upright but with a very distinct walk that cannot be compared to present species either primates or humans. The group also has short legs (Lemonick and Dorfman part 4 par. 1-3).
The two species connect the line of hominids and the ape ancestors. Through the discovery of the two species, the ancestors of humans can be recognized either as direct descendants of the group or some yet-to-be-discovered groups that are related.
Based on the discovery of the three species, it can be considered that human evolution is not a special case in nature just because there is only a single species that is present today.