New human ancestor species discovered in Afar region of Ethiopia

In the Afar regions of Ethiopia, scientists had discovered a new human ancestor species of Australopithecus deyiremeda. The scientists team led by Yohannes haile- selassie from Cleveland Museum of Natural History, have unearthed upper and lower jaws of the species.

• By the radiometric, paleomagnetic  and depositional rate fossil analysis it is predicted that the minimum and maximum ages  to be 3.3 and 3.5 million years ago.
• It must have existed alongside famous Lucy( female Australopithecus afarensis found in 1974) that also existed 3.5 million years ago.
• It must be noted that Lucy species lived from 2.9 to 3.8 million years ago .
• The discovered species shows the presence of more than one closely related to early human ancestor species the middle pliocene before 3 million years ago.
• In terms of shape and size the Australopethicus deyiremeda species varied from Lucy species.
• Thick- enamelled teeth and robust shape of its lower jaws with anterior teeth’s being smaller compared to lucy species showing that the diet it consumed would have been  different.
• The name ”Australopethicus deyiremeda” was derived from the local Afar language which means ”close relative”, referring to species being close relative of all later hominins.
• Hominin refers to group involving humans and their ancestors.
• For many years scientists argue that there was only one pre-human species between 3 to 4 million years ago giving rise to another species through years.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

• It is a natural history museum located in Cleveland,Ohio, USA.
• Established in the year 1920.
• Museum has more than 4 million specimens including specimens of paleontology,zoology,archeology etc
• Some of the exhibits include samples of Late Devonian Cleveland Shale fish, remains of balto and sled dog, 900 monkeys and apes skeletons and also collections of 30,000 plant fossils.
• The curent Curator and Head is Yohannes Haile Selassie