Homo bodoensis - humanity's latest member

In the eternally revealing sage of homo evolution, one more member reveals itself.

Homo bodoensis - humanity's latest member

---

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

---

• The story: Researchers announced the naming of a newly discovered species of human ancestor, Homo bodoensis. It lived in Africa about 5,00,000 years ago, during the Middle Pleistocene age, and was the direct ancestor of modern humans. The name "bodoensis" derives from a skull found in Bodo D’ar in the Awash River valley of Ethiopia.
• Why important: Scientists said that the epoch is significant because it was when anatomically contemporary humans, Homo sapiens, appeared in Africa and the Neanderthals, known as Homo neanderthalensis, in Europe.

1. Some paleoanthropologists have described this period as “the muddle in the middle” because human evolution during this age is poorly understood.
2. Talking about human evolution during this time period became impossible due to the lack of proper terminology that acknowledges human geographic variation. Under the new classification, Homo bodoensis will describe the majority of Middle Pleistocene humans from Africa and some from south-east Europe, while many from the latter continent will be reclassified as Neanderthals.
3. The introduction of Homo bodoensis is aimed at cutting the Gordian knot and allowing man to communicate clearly about this important period in human evolution. Naming a new species is a big deal, as the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature allows name changes only under very strictly defined rules.

• Name: The new name is based on a reassessment of existing fossils from Africa and Eurasia from this time period. Traditionally, these fossils have been variably assigned to either Homo heidelbergensis or Homo rhodesiensis, both of which carried multiple, often contradictory definitions.

1. Human evolution and variation in ancestral species during this period aren't well understood and the formal anointment of Homo bodoensis, as a distinct species, purportedly brings fresh perspective and clarity to solving some of the riddles that this chapter of human evolution poses.
2. DNA evidence has shown that some fossils in Europe called H. heidelbergensis were actually early Neanderthals, making the name redundant.
3. Also, African fossils dated to this period have been called at times both H. heidelbergensis and H. rhodesiensis. H. rhodesiensis is poorly defined and the name has never been widely accepted. This is partly due to its association with Cecil Rhodes and the crimes carried out during colonial rule in Africa -- an unacceptable honour in light of the important work being done toward decolonizing science.

• The rise of humans: There have been many species similar to "us" that lived over the last two million years. Some co-existed with modern humans in Asia and Europe as recently as 40,000 years ago. Apart from our species, eight other kinds of humans existed: Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, Homo erectus, Homo antecessor, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo floresiensis (nicknamed 'the Hobbit'), Homo neanderthalensis (the Neanderthals) and the recently discovered Homo naledi. The mysterious Denisovans, who may or may not turn out to be a distinct species, are also there.
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain the reason(s) homo sapiens came to dominate planet Earth. (2) What are the various reasons other cousin species of homo sapiens died out over the eons? Explain.

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

#HomoSapiens #Evolution #Homobodoensis

Join UPSC Self Prep course | Online Course (PT Gurukul)  | Covid Special Course | Join PT courses

* Content sourced from free internet sources (publications, PIB site, international sites, etc.). Take your own subscriptions. Copyrights acknowledged.