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The evolutionary context of the first hominins

Author

Listed:
  • Bernard Wood

    (CASHP, The George Washington University, 2110 G Street, NW Washington, District of Columbia 20052, USA)

  • Terry Harrison

    (Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, New York 10003, USA)

Abstract

Drawing the line on human ancestors Several fossil discoveries in recent years have been hailed as early hominins — members of the clade that includes humans and human ancestors — including Ardipithecus, from the Middle Awash region of Ethiopia, Orrorin from the Tugen Hills of Kenya and Sahelanthropus from the Djurab desert of Chad. Bernard Wood and Terry Harrison sound a note of caution. The differences between modern humans and non-hominins such as chimpanzees and bonobos are considerable. But between 8 million and 4 million years ago, when the human line is thought to have emerged, the differences between hominids in general would have been smaller. In this Review, Wood and Harrison offer alternative interpretations for where the likes of Ardipithecus, Orrorin and Sahelanthropus might be accommodated within the tree of life — close to but not perhaps on the hominin line.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard Wood & Terry Harrison, 2011. "The evolutionary context of the first hominins," Nature, Nature, vol. 470(7334), pages 347-352, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:470:y:2011:i:7334:d:10.1038_nature09709
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09709
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