12 Sep 2015

Science news: Homo Naledi

From This Way Up, 12:35 pm on 12 September 2015

Dr Chris Smith of The Naked Scientists

Dr Chris Smith of The Naked Scientists Photo: SUPPLIED

Dr Chris Smith of The Naked Scientists with news of the discovery of the remains of an ancient human-like animal in a deep cave in South Africa.

It's being called Homo Naledi; so how significant is this discovery, how did the bones get there, and how are we related?

Dinaledi skeletal specimens. (CC BY 4.0)

Holotype specimen of Homo naledi, Dinaledi Hominin 1 (DH1). (CC BY 4.0)

U.W. 101-484 paratype tibia. (CC BY 4.0)

Paratype DH3. (CC BY 4.0)

Foot 1 in (A) dorsal view; and (B) medial view. (CC BY 4.0)

Cranial paratypes. (CC BY 4.0)

Selected pelvic specimens of H. naledi. (CC BY 4.0)

U.W. 101-377 mandible. (CC BY 4.0)

First metacarpals of H. naledi. (CC BY 4.0)

Hand 1. (CC BY 4.0)

U.W. 101-1391 paratype femur. (CC BY 4.0)

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