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Ancient Hominin Fossils Reveal Two Human Ancestors Lived Side by Side
The Burtele foot shows Australopithecus deyiremeda had a grasping big toe and a diet of leaves and fruit, indicating two hominin species coexisted with distinct lifestyles.
- On November 26, 2025, a Nature paper assigned a 3.4-million-year-old foot found in 2009 at Burtele/Woranso-Mille, Afar Rift, to Australopithecus deyiremeda, first named from nearby jaw bones in 2015.
- Now, in a study published Tuesday, researchers described a jawbone with 12 teeth and a lower jaw within 300 metres of the foot, linking the fossils after years of fieldwork.
- Analysis of the foot bones shows the Burtele foot, assembled from 29 fragments , has an opposable big toe and hyperflexible toes, indicating climbing ability and second digit push-off.
- Isotope analysis by Naomi Levin showed A. deyiremeda mainly consumed C3 resources while A. afarensis ate more C4 plants, suggesting dietary separation reduced competition despite living within 5 kilometers.
- The discovery could reshape debates by casting doubt on Lucy as Homo's direct ancestor, while researchers say it opens the possibility of potential additional Pliocene hominin species and drew skepticism in the scientific community.
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Mystery foot belongs to ancient human relative: scientists
Newly discovered fossils prove that a mysterious foot found in Ethiopia belongs to a little-known, recently named ancient human relative who lived alongside the species of the famous Lucy, scientists said Wednesday.
·Missoula, United States
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New finds complement the image of a controversial Australopithecus species discovered in Ethiopia. Feet and teeth play a major role in this process.
·Vienna, Austria
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A mysterious fossilized foot discovered in Ethiopia puts a little-known man's ancestor in the spotlight
·Montreal, Canada
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A fossilized foot found 15 years ago belonged to enigmatic human relative that lived alongside Lucy, scientists say
Freshly unearthed jaw bones and teeth that were found close to a previously discovered foot suggest human relatives tried several ways of walking before honing in on one strategy.
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources56
Leaning Left11Leaning Right8Center15Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 32%
C 44%
R 24%
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