Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor

[Champagne]

...come from an individual of a single species. Otherwise there would be more than one Lucy and the bones per individual would be even less than 40%.

To me that was a lucky coincidence.

They've found other Australopithecine skeletons.

Considering the number of bones and fragments found at the Lucy site, and considering there was no duplication, it would be exceedingly unlikely for more than one individual to be represented.

 

[beer good]

I thought this was interesting, even if it's not an ancestor as such:

Previously unknown human species (possibly) found

 

[beer good]

...and this is not in any way an ancestor, but still pretty cool:

Evolution in Action: Lizard Moving From Eggs to Live Birth

 

[chiangmaifalcon]

If you believe in evolution, then you never lived in New York City.

 

[sparkchaser]

...and this is not in any way an ancestor, but still pretty cool:

Evolution in Action: Lizard Moving From Eggs to Live Birth

Very cool article.

 

[dele]

Yes, very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

 

[beer good]

I thought this was neat:

Earliest human footprints found in Kenya



Scientists digging in a Kenyan desert have found what they believe to be the oldest humanlike footprints. Several individuals laid them down 1.5 million years ago in what was a muddy track.

"The prints match a men's shoe size of about 9, which gives you a height of about 5 feet 9 inches," says Brian Richmond of George Washington University, who was part of the excavation team. "Here, we have really compelling evidence that they were walking with a long stride, they had an arch in the foot the way we have, and the arch puts a spring in our step, which makes walking more efficient," he says.

 

[SFG75]

I'm still waiting for a time when politicians will develop a backbone and walk upright.