An ancient human ancestor was one tall dude, according to scientists. This conclusion is based on the footprint found in northern Tanzania in Africa. The 13 footprints are impressions left in volcanic ash that later hardened into rock. Their comparatively large size, averaging a bit over 10 inches long (26 centimeters), suggest they were made by a male member of the species known as Australopithecus afarensis.
Human's Ancient Ancestor Is A Tall Man, Scientists Claimed Based On Footsteps
The ancient human ancestor, according to ABC News, stood a majestic 5 feet 5 inches, weighed around 100 pounds and maybe had a harem. That's what scientists figure from the footprints he left behind some 3.7 million years ago. He's evidently the tallest known member of the prehuman species best known for the fossil skeleton nicknamed "Lucy," reaching a stature no other member of our family tree matched for another 1.5 million years.
Researchers named the new creature S1, for the first discovery made at the "S'' site. From the footprints, they figured that he loomed at least 8 inches (more than 20 centimeters) above the individuals who made the other tracks, and stood maybe 3 inches (7 centimeters) taller than a large A. afarensis specimen previously found in Ethiopia. "Lucy", also from Ethiopia, was much shorter at about 3½ feet (107 centimeters).
The findings are described in a report released Wednesday by the journal eLife. Authors include Giorgio Manzi of Sapienza University in Rome, Marco Cherin of the University of Perugia in Italy, and others. The published report claimed that new footprints from Laetoli (Tanzania) provide evidence for marked body size variation in early hominins. This said evidence supports the theory that body size varied considerably amongst individuals within the species.
What Is Australopithecus Afarensis?
Australopithecus afarensis (A. afarensis) is an extinct hominin that lived between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago. A. afarensis was slenderly built, like the younger Australopithecus africanus. A. afarensis is thought to be more closely related to the genus Homo (which includes the modern human species Homo sapiens), whether as a direct ancestor or a close relative of an unknown ancestor, than any other known primate from the same time.
A. afarensis fossils have only been discovered within Eastern Africa. Despite Laetoli being the type locality for A. afarensis, the most extensive remains assigned to the species are found in Hadar, Afar Region of Ethiopia, including the above-mentioned "Lucy" partial skeleton and the "First Family" found at the AL 333 locality. Other localities bearing A. afarensis remains include Omo, Maka, Fejej, and Belohdelie in Ethiopia, and Koobi Fora and Lothagam in Kenya.
